CAE to support USAF’s DTCN

CAE USA has been contracted to upgrade a range of KC-135 aircrew training devices to allow them to be used on the US Air Force's (USAF) Distributed Training Center Network (DTCN), the company announced on 11 February.

The contract, which comes under the KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme, also requires CAE to ensure that the training centre facilities housing KC-135 aircrew training devices meet the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) physical security and cybersecurity requirements in order to network the devices to the classified DTCN.

The company will update and upgrade KC-135 boom operator weapon systems trainers (BOWST) and KC-135 operational flight trainers (OFTs) so that they can be used for MAF DMO training. With the ability to connect the various KC-135 training devices to the DTCN, the USAF will have increased capability for virtual air refuelling and air refuelling formation training over a secure network. 

Clifford Sanchez, manager, KC-135 Aircrew Training System, Air Mobility Command, USAF, said: ‘We are systematically increasing our virtual training capabilities and the addition of the KC-135 pilot and boom operator flight simulators are a critical piece of our overall MAF DMO and virtual air refuelling effort.’