F-35 Full Mission Simulators delivered to Israel, Japan, Italy and Norway

Fergus Kelly November 6, 2017

1 minute read

F-35 Full Mission Simulators were recently delivered to the Israeli, Italian, Japanese and Norwegian Air Forces, the first deliveries to international F-35 operators, Lockheed Martin said in a Monday, November 6 press release.

The simulators are critical for components F-35 pilot training, facilitating pilot qualification training, continuation training and mission rehearsal training, and in-country Lockheed Martin personnel assist with operation, maintenance and scenario creation.

“Lockheed Martin fully supports these customers and their F-35 training goals – we’re here to enable their success,” said Colleen Arthur, vice president of F-35 Training at Lockheed Martin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7IIksCxxM0

Dozens of international pilots and maintainers have been trained in the U.S., while some of instructors have been trained in-country by Lockheed Martin’s Global Mobile Training Team, an experienced group of subject matter experts who provide training for the F-35, the release said. Lockheed Martin also supports F-35 maintenance training in the four countries.

F-35A Lightning II aircraft moves to refuel, July 13, 2016 on a flight from the UK to the United States. Image: US Air Force /Staff Sgt. Madelyn Brown

Three F-35s delivered to Norway

Meanwhile, the first three Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs delivered to Norway from the F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas landed at Ørland Air Base on Friday, November 3. The arrival will be celebrated officially on November 10, the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s 73rd anniversary.

In total, ten aircraft have been shipped to the RNAF, with seven located at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for pilot training. The Norwegian government plans to purchase up to 52 F-35s, and has so far funded the procurement of 22 aircraft, with subsequent authorization expected to occur on an annual basis.