L-3 Communications recently announced that its Link Simulation and Training (L-3 Link) division has been awarded a contract from the Boeing Company to provide two F/A-18E/F Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) and two instructor operator stations.
In 2006 L-3 received an initial contract to build four F/A-18E/F TOFTs, which will result in two trainers each being delivered in 2008 to both Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore and NAS Oceana. Under this newly awarded contract option, during 2008 an additional F/A-18E/F TOFT will be delivered by L-3 to NAS Lemoore and NAS Oceana, respectively.
“L-3 Link Simulation and Training’s F/A-18E/F Tactical Operational Flight Trainers will provide Super Hornet aircrews with the ability to undertake a full range of simulated tactical mission scenarios,” said Mike Wallace, Vice President of Navy and Air Force Programs at L-3 Link Simulation and Training. “These trainers – based on L-3 Link Simulation and Training’s proven F/A-18 simulator common architecture, SimuView™ image generation, SimuSphere™ visual display and Boeing’s simulated Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) technologies – will enable Super Hornet aircrews to maintain their proficiency and warfighting advantage.”
The two additional F/A-18E/F TOFTs will join the four Super Hornet simulators currently under build at L-3 as the first F/A-18E/F TOFTs to be compliant with the Navy Aviation Simulation Master Plan, enabling aircrews to undertake networked missions and incorporate the revolutionary, emissions-based Next Generation Threat System.
The Boeing-developed simulated JHMCS will provide Super Hornet pilots and weapons sensor officers with a targeting system that can be used to control sensors and weapons through visual cueing. L-3’s SimuSphere, configured to provide a 360° field-of-view, will surround both pilot and weapons sensor officer crew stations with out-the-window computer generated imagery.