The Pilatus PC-21 is a turboprop advanced trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Development of the PC-21 started in January 1999. Roll-out of the PC-21 prototype was on 30 April 2002 at Pilatus' factory in Stans, Switzerland, with the first flight taking place on 1 July of the same year. The second PC-21 prototype flew on 7 June 2004. With air force budgets getting tighter, the all-new PC-21 provides a low-cost but highly effective training platform for pilots destined to fly jet fighters, without actually requiring them to fly jets until much later in the program. The PC-21 far surpasses all other turboprop trainers in terms of aerodynamic performance, cockpit equipment, flexibility and ease of maintenance. The use of state-of-the-art technologies increases both the efficiency and quality of training. Six PC-21 have been delivered to the Swiss Air Force, the first four being delivered in April 2008. In December 2010, the Swiss air force ordered another two. On 21 January 2008, the first PC-21 for the Republic of Singapore Air Force completed its flight test prior to being accepted into service. In 2009, UAE announced an order of 25 PC-21 for the United Arab Emirates Air Force to replace their aging fleet of Pilatus PC-7s. In 2012, the Royal Saudi Air Force (55 aircraft) and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (24 aircraft) have opted for the PC-21.