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Lockheed Martin has awarded training services subcontracts to the primes for its joint Franco-German C-130J Super Hercules program.
Rheinmetall and Thales have been selected by Lockheed Martin to certify future training centre organisation for the joint Franco-German C-130J Super Hercules aircraft fleet.
The firms are expected to provide personnel and services related to the certification, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2024.
The initial establishment and certification phase may be followed by an optional operating phase, which if awarded would require Rheinmetall and Thales to provide all management personnel, qualified flight and ground crew instructors, and maintenance personnel for the operation of all training devices.
The training centre is to be established at Évreux in Normandy, which will host the new French and German C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as a joint transport squadron.
The accompanying training centre is expected to be certified as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), certified by the French civil aviation authority (DGAC).
France and Germany plan to jointly operate a total of 10 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from 2021, leveraging joint cockpit crews and mixed teams on the ground.
Thus far, France has delivered four Super Hercules, with Germany to contribute six aircrafts to the squadron, starting from 2022.
Once delivered, the six new aircraft will replace the German Transall C-160.
[Related: Rheinmetall unveils new generation of HX tactical heavy vehicles]
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