Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract valued at up to $287 million (if all options are exercised), to provide C-130J training systems and services to the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force recently exercised options totaling $51.9 million to begin work immediately on the new training systems.

This contract follows a multi-year C-130J aircraft acquisition award to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company earlier this year, valued in excess of $4 billion. Under that contract, the U.S. Air Force ordered 40 C-130J aircraft and the U.S. Marine Corps ordered 20 KC-130J tankers.

As prime contractor for the training systems, Lockheed Martin Information Systems has overall responsibility for program management, training equipment, spares procurement, and integration of training services. The contract will provide eight new trainers as well as training instruction and support to qualify and sustain the Air Force's C-130J crew force through the year 2010.

Design and manufacture of the training systems has been subcontracted to CAE under Lockheed Martin's C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) program. CAE will build four new aircrew trainers, three maintenance trainers, a loadmaster trainer, and provide operation and maintenance support.

All of the new training systems will be delivered to either Little Rock Air Force Base (AR), or Pope AFB (NC).

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com; www.cae.com