Hawker Hunter Aggressor Jet Crashes Off North Carolina

[rebewranger]

Hawker Hunter Aggressor Jet Crashes Off North Carolina
Joseph Trevithick - Yesterday 7:45 PM
 

A63-year-old single-seat Hawker Hunter Mk 58 jet operated by contract adversary air provider Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, or ATAC, has crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina, the Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed to The War Zone. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the pilot, but it's unclear what their current condition might be or whether they were able to eject from the aircraft before it hit the water.
 
The full FAA statement is as follows:

A single-engine Hawker crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina around 5:15 p.m. local time today. Only the pilot was on board and was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hawker-hunter-aggressor-jet-crashes-off-north-carolina/ar-AAYFWBo?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=a5bd578fb73f41c483d65fd4be9fbd42

[mountaineer]

contract adversary air provider Airborne Tactical Advantage Company

Can anyone explain this to me?

[Kamaji]

Can anyone explain this to me?

I believe it means that it's a private company that provides aircraft and pilots to challenge military pilots in training exercises.

[GtHawk]

Can anyone explain this to me?

This might help
https://www.lortieaviation.com/home.aviation.htm

[Smokin Joe]

https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-Mk-58
The jets served from 1958 to 1991, the last retired from active duty being Swiss, and after several modifications.

Using them as adversary aircraft in a training role permits pilot combat training without using duty aircraft as adversaries, which may save the service money for maintenance and parts, and wear and tear on active duty airframes.