Lockheed Martin to support Saudi Arabia F-15SA modernization with virtual training technologies
ORLANDO, Fla., 13 March 2013. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) engineers will begin work on ground-based F-15SA pilot and maintenance training systems for the Royal Saudi Air Force, based on a $253 million contract under Saudi Arabia's F-15SA modernization program.
Lockheed Martin will deliver 360-degree full mission trainers, as well as egress, avionics, and desktop trainers for procedure training by pilots. The trainers will help pilots complete air-to-air combat, air-to-surface missions, air combat maneuvers, and tactical intercepts.
A first for F-15 training, the systems will feature a single dome over the dual-seat cockpit to enable crew coordination training.
"The complement of F-15SA training systems starts with desktop trainers and progressively increases in capability to full mission weapons systems trainers," says Jim Weitzel, vice president of training solutions for Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business. "This creates a cost-effective program since the appropriate level of technology is applied to meet the training objectives."
For maintainers, Lockheed Martin will provide virtual systems to enable training without the actual aircraft. The systems include basic maintenance, landing gear and arresting hook, armament, flight controls, and jet fuel starter trainers.
Lockheed Martin will deliver the training systems by 2020.
Work on the contract will be performed in Akron, Ohio, and Orlando, Fla.
The contract is managed through a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Lockheed Martin, having served as the Royal Saudi Air Force's F-15 training partner for more than three decades, also provides the service's weapons systems officer training program. In addition to delivering training systems to Saudi Arabia, Lockheed Martin's F-15 training technologies are in operation by the United States, Israel, and Japan.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
