Lockheed Martin has been awarded a series of contracts to advance C-130j Super Hercules aircrew and maintenance training for the US Air Force (USAF) personnel.
The $80m C-130J maintenance and aircrew training system (MATS) II contract covers the delivery of a number of aircrew and maintainer devices to support ground-based training, including high-fidelity weapons systems trainers, part-task trainers and training aids.
Specifically, the company will supply a C-130J Air Mobility Command (AMC) weapon systems trainer and C-130J AMC loadmaster part task trainer at Yokota Air Base in Yokota, Japan.
Additional responsibilities include the supply of a KC-130J weapons systems trainer, spares, support equipment and technical data, along with C-130 aircrew training system operations and maintenance services, and the C-130J training system support centre services.
Lockheed Martin Training Solutions vice-president Jim Weitzel said: "Lockheed Martin is applying more than 20 years of C-130 training experience to continue infusing new capabilities into these programmes, ensuring our training systems evolve, as aircraft platforms mature and as the threat environment changes, to support our warfighters in training and accelerate mission readiness."
To date, Lockheed has trained more than 15,000 students and delivered 17 major training devices, 12 training aids and more than 3,300 aircrew courseware lessons under the C-130J MATS programme.
The company’s legacy of C-130 training also includes the C-130 aircrew training system (ATS) programme, which prepare nearly 8,000 domestic and international airmen each year.
Lockheed will continue to upgrade C-130 ATS training devices to maintain concurrency with aircraft platforms and deliver enhanced systems and models for increased reliability and supportability during this year.
The C-130J is a longer fuselage variant of legacy C-130 Hercules. It is designed to conduct airborne assault, search-and-rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance and aerial refuelling, as well as maritime patrol and aerial firefighting missions.
Image: A USAF airman reviews a pre-flight checklist in a C-130J cockpit trainer. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Harry Brexel.
