Lockheed Martin has signed a contract valued at more than $73 million to provide three KC-130J Weapon Systems Trainers (WSTs) to the U.S. Marine Corps. The simulators will support training requirements for aircrews of the KC-130J, a medium-sized transport and tanker used for airlift and aerial refueling operations of both tactical aircraft and helicopters.

The Marine Corps is procuring the KC-130J WSTs under an existing U.S. Air Force C-130J training contract announced in November 2003. That contract followed a multi-year C-130J aircraft acquisition award to Lockheed Martin in early 2003, valued at more than $4 billion. Under the acquisition contract, the Marine Corps ordered 20 KC-130J tankers and the Air Force ordered 40 C- 130J aircraft.

As prime contractor for the KC-130J training systems, Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support in Orlando, FL has overall responsibility for program management, training equipment, provision of aircraft parts and spares and integration of training services. Design, manufacture, and integration of the KC-130J WSTs has been subcontracted to CAE.

"Our goal is to ensure that aircrews flying the KC-130J tanker are trained to take full advantage of the aircraft's capabilities, helping to extend the operational reach of the Marine Corps," said Steve Fleming, Lockheed Martin C- 130 senior program manager.

The first KC-130J WST will be delivered in mid-2006 to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. The second and third are scheduled for delivery to MCAS Miramar in California and MCAS Futenma in Okinawa, Japan in late 2006 and early 2008, respectively. The KC-130J WSTs will be customized for Marine Corps tanker training, including a refueling station at the augmented crew position in the cockpit.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Information Systems