ORLANDO, Fla., 10 July 2009. Lockheed Martin won the Weapons System Support Contract (WSSC) from the U.S. Air Force's Air Education Training Command (AETC), as well as the Weapons Systems Simulator Training & Support Contract by the Air National Guard Bureau to provide pilot training for the F-16. The contracts for $13 million and $20 million, respectively, provide support services for multiple versions of the F-16, including academic instruction and assessment, courseware development, simulator and training device instruction, and training management support.

"Lockheed Martin has supported the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard training program since 2002, training approximately 500 students a year," says Jim Weitzel, vice president of flight solutions for Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support.

Lockheed Martin provides pilot training and support at Luke Air Force Base and Tucson Air National Guard Base in Arizona, Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio, and Lackland Air Force Base and Kelly Air Force Base Annex in Texas.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that is proven in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack.