New weapons training for C-130J

Lockheed Martin Corporation has awarded CAE contracts to design and manufacture four C-130J weapons systems trainers and a range of other C-130J training devices for the US Air Force (USAF).

As part of the C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System Phase II program, prime contractor Lockheed Martin and CAE will design 16 training devices including weapons systems, enhanced integrated cockpit systems, loadmaster fuselage and loadmaster part-task trainers.

CAE will manufacture the simulators and training devices at its Tampa, Fla., USA and Montreal, Canada facilities.

Lockheed Martin will integrate and deliver the trainers to the USAF Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command and Special Operations Command for C-130J initial qualification and refresher training.

The trainers will be delivered by 2016 to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; Moody Air Force Base, Ga.; in the US and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"The new integrated cockpit systems trainers, for example, allow both aircrew and maintenance training on the same device, offering increased training capability to our customers while adding tremendous value," said Jim Weitzel, vice president of Training Solutions in Lockheed Martin's Global Training and Logistics business.