CAE is to upgrade up to six US Navy Lockheed Martin P-3C flight simulators under a contract potentially worth $23 million. The Canadian manufacturer's US arm will upgrade the motion, control loading and visual systems and update the aerodynamic model to bring the simulators up to the equivalent of Level D standard.
The initial $12.5 million contract covers the upgrade of two simulators, to be ready for training at NAS Jacksonville and Whidbey Island by late 2006. CAE will fit a next-generation version of the Diamond Visionics PC-based visual system already fitted to some P-3C simulators by NLX (now Rockwell Collins).
CAE says the upgrade will use the enhanced aerodynamic model developed for a new simulator for the Lockheed CP-140, due for imminent delivery to the Canadian Force. The company hopes the navy deal will boost its chances of winning a contract supply aP-3C training system to Taiwan.
The USN, meanwhile, has exercised options worth $22 million with CAE for one additional tactical operational flight trainer (TOFT) and two more weapons tactics trainers (WTT) for the Sikorsky MH-60S. This is a follow-on to a $38 million contract awarded last year for two TOFTs and two WTTs.
* The US Marine Corps has exercised an option with Lockheed Martin for the second of three KC-130H weapon system trainers, to be produced by CAE.
Source: Flight International