A Lockheed Martin-led team has submitted the draft syllabus for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) pilot training for approval as it prepares for a training system preliminary design review (PDR) in November. The team is also launching procurement of training system components, with bids in to supply image generators for the full-mission simulators and deployable mission-rehearsal trainers.
The training system is on track to be ready when the first production F-35A is delivered in October 2009. “The pilot training system PDR is in mid-November, and the maintenance training system PDR next March,” says JoAnne Puglisi, JSF training systems integrated product team lead. “We are offset one milestone from the air vehicle. That’s a lesson learned from the F/A-22.” The training system will catch up with the air vehicle in 2006.
Plans call for the first integrated training centre (ITC) – where the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as the UK and other international JSF customers will train – to be established at Eglin AFB in Florida. Additional sites will be established from 2014 and by 2022 there are expected to be three training centres in the USA plus others worldwide, each equipped with between five and eight simulators.
Lockheed has responsibility for providing a turnkey training system under a 10-year, $750 million contract. The ITC will be government owned, but contractor operated, with the industry team providing everything from courseware to training equipment and instructors. “We are not just doing the schoolhouse, but also operational squadrons and annual continuation training,” says Puglisi.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
