BETHESDA, Md., 2 May 2012. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $156 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide new training devices to accommodate the growing number of C-130J aircrews and maintainers.
Lockheed Martin will develop 24 new training devices and provide program management and engineering services under the U.S. Air Force’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System II (JMATS II). The devices will include weapons systems, enhanced integrated cockpit systems, loadmaster fuselage and loadmaster part-task trainers along with cargo handling system training aids.
The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is the newest version of the Hercules, with the previous version being the C-130. THe C-130J features a range of 3,262 miles and can carry up to 42,000 lbs.
The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command and Special Operations Command will use the devices for C-130J initial qualification and refresher training. The trainers are expected to be delivered by 2016 to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; Moody Air Force Base, Ga.; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
The work will be managed at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga. and Orlando, Fla., locations.
Lockheed Martin has managed the C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System since 2000 to provide training devices and support services, including aircrew and maintenance personnel instruction, program operations and engineering services. In August 2011, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin the first phase of the JMATS II program to provide weapons systems training devices.
