Boeing

The U.S. Air Force took another step toward its vision of a Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) capability with the opening of its newest Boeing [NYSE: BA] F-15C Mission Training Center at Kadena Air Base in Japan.

DMO allows Air Force pilots in flight simulators at one location to train with pilots at another location hundreds, even thousands of miles away. This innovative training concept gives the Air Force enhanced simulator training as a realistic supplement to flight training. The Kadena facility is the first F-15C DMO training center site outside the United States.

"The opening of this overseas F-15C training facility is another major step for the Air Force's visionary approach to Distributed Mission Operations," said Keith Hertzenberg, vice president Training Systems and Services, part of the Boeing Integrated Defense Services Aerospace Support business unit. "It expands the Air Force's DMO footprint and provides our combat forces enhanced warfighting capabilities. Boeing plans to be a long-term partner in its commitment supporting the Air Force in making this important endeavor successful."

The Kadena facility joins three other Boeing-operated F-15C Mission training centers, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Langley Air Force Base, Va. Each includes four ship sets of F-15C full mission trainers with high-fidelity 360-degree visual integrated display systems, which are integrated into a virtual environment of simulated threats of friendly and neutral forces operating in combat theaters world-wide. All of the DMO's, as well as other Air Force DMO assets, are networked together to provide realistic combat training between distant locations.

In addition to the revolutionary training technology embodied in the DMO program, the Air Force has applied an innovative acquisition approach, including a streamlined source selection process and a commercial-fee-for-service contracting method.

The total DMO program will eventually incorporate most U.S. Air Force weapons systems, including the F-16, A-10, F-15E and F-22. Future growth could include C-5, C-17, Navy, Marine Corps and Army weapons systems.

The next F-15C site to be activated will be at Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath, England in January 2006. Boeing is also under contract to establish F-15E Mission Training Centers. F-15E training centers will be established at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. and RAF Lakenheath. The first system to be delivered under this contract will be to Mountain Home in early 2006.