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A £175 million contract uplift to expand pilot training at RAF Valley will mean 20 new jobs at the Anglesey airbase.

Ascent Flight Training has been given the extra money by the Ministry of Defence under the ������Ƶ Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme for student pilots.

Basic flying training capacity will increase from 36 to 53 students per year from 2024 and the deal includes four new Texan T6 aircraft, which were delivered this month, a new static flight simulator and additional infrastructure at Valley.

An additional 11 flying instructors and nine engineering roles will be created by the expansion.

Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie welcomed the news.

She said: “I am delighted this investment has been made at RAF Valley and I congratulate Ascent for the contract expansion,” said Virginia.

“The base remains a state-of-the-art facility for pilot training and a vital part of the ������Ƶ’s defence capacity. It employs highly skilled workers, is a big driver in the Anglesey economy and this investment shows the ������Ƶ Government thinks the same.

“I am particularly pleased that new long-term and highly skilled jobs will be generated.”

MoD procurement body Defence Equipment and Support awarded the uplift.

Pilots who graduate from the scheme at RAF Valley will be qualified to operate the ������Ƶ’s most advanced combat aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning and Typhoon.