L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has secured a contract to develop the US Air Force’s (USAF) F-16 mission training centre (MTC) programme.
Valued at $36m, the contract will see the company provide hardware, spares, and initial software development to support the F-16 A/B Block 20 MTC programme.
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Awarded by the Aeronautical Systems Center’s Simulator Systems Group at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), firm-fixed-price contract is part of a foreign military sale to Taiwan.
Work under the contract is expected to be completed by 1 November 2016.
Equipped with L-3 Link’s HD World integrated simulation product line, the MTC enables realistic F-16 training by precisely simulating weapon systems and ordnance, mission profiles and modifications a pilot may encounter in the real aircraft.
Each F-16 MTC features four high-definition simulators, each encompassing an F-16 cockpit linked to the USAF’s distributed missions operations (DMO) network.
The MTC also features four Boeing-built instructor / operator stations, two brief / debrief systems and a mission observation centre.
The simulators are integrated with high definition databases, image generation systems and physics-based processing technology to support basic and advanced pilot mission training, tactics validation and mission rehearsal.
Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engine, the F-16 A/B is an initial production variant of the F-16 multirole jet fighter, featuring AIM-7M Sparrow, AIM-9M and P4 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and Westinghouse AN/APG-66(V)3 fire-control radars.
Taiwan is currently using the jets to conduct air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack missions.
Image: A US Air Force (USAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron. Photo: Tech. Sgt. Joseph Swafford Jr /US Air Force.
