Boeing has just opened the first new F-15E Mission Training Center, this one for the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. According to a company release, the MTC provides “two high-fidelity, dual-cockpit F-15E simulators with a 360-degreee visual system.” Boeing VP Tony Jones said it provides “a huge leap in technology and capability,” making it possible for F-15E aircrews “to experience more realistic scenarios to match today’s demanding missions.” The MTC permits the simulators to link to provide two- or four-ship training, and, within a few months of operation, the MTC will join the Distributed Mission Operations training network for training with distant locations.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
