The next generation of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots is gearing up to climb into Lockheed Martin’s latest flight training device, built to deliver an “authentic cockpit experience.”
The simulator mirrors the form, fit, and function of the PC-21 aircraft, complete with realistic instrumentation, advanced flight modeling, and high-resolution visuals.
It is reportedly engineered to rival the most advanced flight simulators in use globally, giving pilots a training environment that closely emulates real-world flight.
The new device was recently delivered to RAAF Base Pearce to help train Australian military pilots faster and more efficiently.
“We are privileged to be the Australian Defence Force’s strategic partner in the Pilot Training System and are proud to deliver this capability on time and budget,” said Lockheed Martin Australia’s Global Training Systems Director Peter Ashworth.
“As Defence’s strategic partner for AIR5428 Phase 1, we bring together all components of the Pilot Training System, from classroom to cockpit, in partnership with Defence and Australian industry.”
Scaling Training Capacity
The delivery is part of Lockheed’s broader AIR5428 Pilot Training System, which seeks to produce military units with fifth-generation mission readiness.
Future phases will see the program expand with additional PC-21 aircraft, more simulators, and integrated training devices, along with education, maintenance, and support services.
Lockheed projects the program could boost the number of pilots completing training by 25 percent.
Ashworth added that local industry providers will help maintain the devices, supporting both operational readiness and economic growth.
“In conjunction with Pilatus and Jet Aviation, our turnkey training approach delivers an affordable, integrated, and scalable path to safely and effectively train Australian military aviators for tomorrow’s complex missions,” stated Lockheed Martin Australia Chief Executive Warren McDonald.
