The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $23.3 million modification to the C-130 Aircrew Training System contract, which provides comprehensive academic and simulation training for C-130 weapons system aircrews. The modification will update the current Little Rock AFB Formal Training Unit (FTU) curriculum to move training events from the aircraft to aircrew training systems and enhance existing training capability.

The modification provides funding for the Air Force's Reduced Flight Initial Qualification (RFIQ) program that will conserve fuel and reduce aircraft usage by requiring fewer hours of training on the flight line for pilots, navigators, flight engineers and loadmasters. Aircrews instead will accomplish more of their training on high-fidelity Weapons System Trainers (WST) simulators; the addition of several part task trainers will offset the increased demand on the WSTs.

"The Air Force has long recognized that technology is driving visuals to unprecedented realism and we're seeing a reduction in cockpit time and more time in simulators," explained Lorraine Martin, vice president of Flight Solutions, Aircrew and Space Training at Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support. "The RFIQ is truly a win-win because the Air Force saves money by not overusing expensive aircraft and also enables students to perform training missions on simulators that would be too risky in actual flight."

RFIQ introduces three new trainers - an Instrument Approach Trainer, a Station Keeping Emulator and a Loadmaster Crew Resource Management Trainer. Lockheed Martin will stand up a Flight Mission Planning Room within the schoolhouse at Little Rock AFB, and update the academic curriculum taking the basic FTU syllabus from 22 to 33 periods in the WST. Lockheed Martin also will upgrade the schoolhouse's local area network to expand the capability to distribute C-130 courseware over the intranet.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin