In response to growing global demand for C-130J military transport and its LM-100J commercial variant, a new International Training Center will be built at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., facilities, the firm announced Sept. 8. The ITC will be co-located with the production line for the aircraft, and will have academic classrooms and simulators to support training for both military and commercial crews, including initial qualification training, refresher courses, and instructor qualification. The company is investing in the project to provide an “integrated solution” for the next generation of air mobility crews, said Jon Rambeau, the vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s training and logistics division. “As military and commercial customers modernize and expand their fleets, we see an opportunity to offer increased value … through this [training center],” he added. The ITC is now under construction and company officials say it will open in 2018.
The Pentagon is considering ditching the Air Force’s plan to buy the E-7 Wedgetail as it looks to outsource the airborne target-tracking mission to space, defense officials indicated this week.