US Air Force F-16 training consolidation contract allows for better fidelity across programmes

A recent US Air Force (USAF) contract consolidating General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon training programmes will allow all efforts to get the best device while reducing the service’s cost and schedule associated with maintaining separate programmes, according to an executive at L3 Technologies.

L3 was recently awarded a USD350 million contract for the F-16 Simulators Training Program (STP). This consolidates the previous F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC), F-16 Weapons and Tactics Trainer (WTT) Advanced Sustainment, and F-16 Training System (TS) programmes into a unified effort.

L3 Link virtualises the F-16 aircraft and integrates it with all technical manuals, and establishes courseware to provide a fully immersive training environment. (L3 Technologies)

L3 was the incumbent on two of the predecessor programmes to the STP–MTC and TS. Lenna Genna, L3’s link simulation and training president, told Jane’s in mid-January that the WTT effort was a new piece awarded to L3. Genna said the STP consolidation contract will in some cases raise the fidelity of its predecessor programmes.

L3 spokesperson Cathy Gedvilas said in mid-January that the STP consolidation contract allows the USAF to conduct training in a 360° field-of-view system that gives the pilot complete immersion in the environment. This is the fidelity level of the MTC.

Gedvilas said the training devices on the TS and WTT programmes have lesser capability due to different software baselines and lower-fidelity visual systems. They are also typically in much smaller facility spaces at a base.

“The STP programme will bring those programmes up to that same high level of MTC software,” Gedvilas said. “The only difference typically being the size of the visual system being driven by what the facility at each base can accommodate.”