Lockheed Martin on the first day of the 2013 Paris Air Show signed an agreement with Quebec-based CAE, designating the flight training company as a preferred in-country provider of F-35 training support.
(Steve O’Bryan, of Lockheed Martin–right–signing the MoU with Gene Colabatistto, Group President – Military, CAE. Photo, courtesy of Lockheed Martin.)
The memorandum of understanding builds on the past relationship between the two companies, as CAE is also a preferred provider of flight training for the C-130 military transport aircraft. CAE signed the agreement in anticipation of the Canadian government selecting the F-35 for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“Simulation-based training continues to grow in importance for defense forces as a cost-effective means of ensuring mission readiness,” said Gene Colabatistto, group president of defense and security at CAE.
The F-35 Lightning II is expected to reach Initial Operational Capability for the U.S. Marine Corps in 2015, followed by the Air Force in 2016 and the Navy in 2019.