Lockheed wins $1.1B AF aircrew training deal

Lockheed Martin Corp. will provide Air Force flight crews with custom-developed combat training and simulation systems to hone piloting and mission skills under a 10-year, $1.1 billion contract.

The Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support II contract will provide Air Force Special Operations Command crews with training on a variety of weapon systems. The contract extends Lockheed Martin's role as the principal mission rehearsal trainer for Air Force Special Operations and Search and Rescue aircrews. The company won the original Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support contract in 1987.

ATARS II is the next-generation training system for special operations crews at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Pa. and Fort Rucker, Ala.

ATARS II is a distributed, networked environment. Lockheed Martin will provide training for the C-130 Talon, Spectre and Shadow; MH-53 Pave Low and MH-60 Pave Hawk; and the CV-22 Osprey.

Through the ATARS program, thousands of aircrew members are trained each year and offers additional training for flight, naval and ground systems applications.

Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md., ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.