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F-16 Fighting Falcon News

L-3 Link awarded contract option to build fifth F-16 MTC

September 20, 2011 (by Rick Oyler) - L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) announced that it has received a contract option from the U.S. Air Force to build a fifth F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC).

"The new F-16 Mission Training Centers we are building and fielding for the U.S. Air Force represent a major leap forward in military flight simulation realism that will maximize pilot operational readiness while reducing overall training costs," said Leonard Genna, president of L-3 Link.

"Pilots will be immersed in high-definition, dynamic training scenarios that will enable them to practice air-to-air and air-to-ground missions under any condition that might be encountered during actual flight."

L-3 Link is achieving this advanced training capability by integrating its HD World® simulation product line on all F-16 MTC training devices. Each F-16 MTC, which consists of four simulators, incorporates high-definition displays, image generation, databases and dynamic environments. HD World’s high-definition simulation capabilities will enable F-16 pilots to detect, determine the orientation of, recognize and identify targets from the same distance as they would when conducting an actual sortie.

The Boeing Company is providing instructor/operator stations in support of all F-16 MTC installations, as well as the mission observation and brief/debrief systems.

Fielding of the first F-16 MTC is currently underway at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), with completion and operational turnover to the U.S. Air Force scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Additional F-16 MTCs, which can simulate either the fighter aircraft’s Block 40/42 or 50/52 configurations, are slated for potential future delivery at U.S. Air Force installations, including Shaw AFB, S.C.; Hill AFB, Utah; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Kunsan Air Base (AB), Korea; Aviano AB, Italy; Misawa AB, Japan; and Spangdahlem AB, Germany.