French-made Rafale F4 fighter jet in flight. Credit: © Dassault Aviation – ERIDIA/ V. Almansa.

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded CAE USA an eight-year contract to continue providing complete KC-135 aircrew training services.

The contract has a one-year base performance period and comes with seven additional ‘one-year’ option periods.

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The total contract is valued at over $275m.

CAE became the primary contractor on the KC-135 Training System programme in 2010.

The KC-135 aircrew training system (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrade training for KC-135 aircrews.

CAE USA president and general manager Ray Duquette said: “CAE USA did an outstanding job supporting the US Air Force on the KC-135 training programme over the past decade, and we are extremely pleased to win the recompete competition and remain the KC-135 training partner.”

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Under the latest contract, CAE will continue delivering ‘classroom and simulator training for KC-135 pilots and boom operators’.

It will also continue to provide updates and upgrades to KC-135 training devices.

A group of industry partners such as Delaware Resource Group (DRG), Cardinal Point, FAAC, and CymSTAR will support CAE USA on the KC-135 Training System programme.

Furthermore, the new ‘KC-135 Training System contract’ includes training support for the Air National Guard KC-135 boom operator simulator system (BOSS). This training support will be provided at 12 sites in the US.

Overall, CAE USA will support the training of over 4,500 KC-135 aircrew members per year.

CAE Defense and Security Group president Dan Gelston said: “The KC-135 Stratotanker plays a vital role in the US Air Force’s ability to deliver global reach, and we are honoured to contribute to the training and readiness of the KC-135 aircrews who fly these essential tanker missions.”

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