The first shipment of high-tech flight training equipment recently arrived at Italy's National Training Center (NTC) where future aircrew members and maintenance technicians of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI, Italian Air Force) will learn to fly and maintain the service's modern C-130J fleet. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. built the NTC as part of the company's overall program to provide the C-130J to Italy.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp. .

"The National Training Center will substantially reduce the training time necessary to qualify AMI pilots to fly the C-130J," said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin's C-130J program vice president. "This state-of-the-art facility and the equipment being installed will make the NTC the most advanced aircrew training facility in Europe."

An Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) and a Cockpit Avionics Part Task Trainer (CAPTT), both designed and built for C-130J training by CAE of Tampa, Fla., were the first two systems to arrive at the center. These on-schedule deliveries will enable the NTC to reach its ready-for-training date slated for the end of this year. The center's design allows for a second OFT to be installed as required in the future.

The AMI NTC will be used primarily to conduct C-130J aircrew and maintenance training, but also will provide classroom facilities for other aircraft programs.

Currently, Italy is Europe's second-largest C-130J operator, with a total of 22 aircraft on order.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp., headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. Employing about 125,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales of $24 billion.

For more information on Lockheed Martin Corp., visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

For more information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company