Boeing has been selected to build and operate additional training centres for USAir Force F-15s, but has been replaced as support contractor for the US Navy's T45TS training system.
A $285 million contract to establish four F-15E mission training centres (MTC) has been awarded to the company's Aerospace Support unit, already building F-15C MTCs under the USAF's Distributed Mission Training (DMT) programme.
The first three Boeing-operated training centres for the air-superiority F-15C are operational at Eglin AFB, Elmendorf AFB and Langley AFB, each with four networked full mission trainers.
Under the latest contract, MTCs for the F-15E will be established at Elmendorf, Mountain Home AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB and RAF Lakenheath in the UK, and Boeing will provide fee-for-service training until 2016.
DMT is a US Department of Defense initiative to provide realistic mission training by linking simulators in different locations via a long-haul network. Lockheed Martin is establishing MTCs for the Block 40/50 F-16C, with sites operational at Mountain Home and Shaw AFB and simulators on order for Spangdahlem, Germany. The US Navy has ordered its first DMT suite, for the Boeing F/A-18C, fromL-3 Communications, for installation at NAS Oceana.
Meanwhile, Vertex Aerospace (formerly Raytheon Aerospace) is to take over contractor logistic support of US Navy Boeing T-45 trainers at NAS Kingsville and NAS Meridian. The company was selected over Aviation Technical Services, the joint venture formed in April by incumbent contractor Boeing Aerospace Support and DynCorp Technical Services. The five-year contract is worth $450 million.
Source: Flight International
