Home Air ATAC secures US Navy F-35 chase flight contract for its Mirage fleet

ATAC secures US Navy F-35 chase flight contract for its Mirage fleet

Mirage F1 and F-35 in flight
Photo: ATAC

Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) has received a five-year contract from the US Navy to provide chase flight services for the fifth-generation F-35 fighters.

ATAC will provide three Mirage F1 aircraft for approximately 600 flight hours per year from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Flight operations are expected to start late in 2022 or in early 2023, according to the company. ATAC crews will support new F-35 aircraft during their first flights, along with product assurance flights.

Mirage F1s will be used to fly specific profiles and provide airspace clearance and aircraft systems checks.

This is the latest in a series of contracts ATAC has secured with the US military since it completed the purchase of 63 Mirage F1s from the French Air Force in 2017. After refurbishment, a Mirage first flew with an F-35 in 2019.

In 2020, the company won the US Air Force Combat Air Force/Contracted Air Support (CAF/CAS) contract, under which it will provide adversary air training to pilots at Luke, Holloman, and Eglin air force bases. The combined awards provide for over 3,000 sorties per year for up to 4.5 years, which will be provided by ATAC’s fleet of Mirage F1 fighter aircraft.

“Being chosen to provide F-35 chase services is yet another validation of ATAC’s continued industry-leading solution headlined by our fleet of Mirage F1s,” said Scott Stacy, ATAC senior vice president and general manager. “We are well-positioned for continued expansion following our successful wins in 2020 and the company’s sustained operations for our US Navy and US Air Force customers.”