Boeing Connects 2 More F-15E Simulators to US Air Force Global Training Network

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 30, 2009 - Boeing [NYSE: BA] has connected two additional F-15E Mission Training Centers (MTC) to the U.S. Air Force's Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON) -- one at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and one at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

These two sites join the F-15E MTC at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, which Boeing connected to the DMON in June. F-15E pilots at all three bases now can train virtually with military aircraft pilots located around the world.

Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) provides an advanced training environment in which simulators flown by front-line aircrew are linked via the DMON from their home bases.

"Having all three MTCs on the network is a significant achievement," said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president, Training Systems and Services. "Now warfighters at these three bases can benefit from the realistic training provided by the MTCs without incurring the financial or environmental costs or safety risks of live-fly training exercises."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Boeing's first delivery of MTCs in support of a networked and distributed training environment. The first MTCs on the DMON connected F-15C pilots at the Eglin and Langley Air Force bases. Today, Boeing connects 10 MTC sites at Air Force bases around the world for pilots to train on F-15E and F-16 platforms. Boeing expects to add the F-22 Raptor to the DMON by 2010; the system also has the capability to incorporate airlift and tanker missions.

The DMO configuration has enabled Boeing-developed and -operated MTC sites around the world to network to one another throughout the past decade, improving the scale and fidelity of multisquadron training operations.

"DMO allows the Air Force to simulate combat and training between several bases and dissimilar aircraft, allowing aircrews to 'train as they fight,' right from their home base," added McGraw.