Royal Australian Air Force Links F-35 Simulators for First Time on Lockheed Martin Network
The Australian Department of Defence, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, connected F-35 simulators at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases Williamtown and Tindal via the F-35’s distributed mission training (DMT) network.
This establishes Australia as the first international F-35 customer to receive this capability, further enhancing global mission readiness and interoperability of the F-35 fleet.
“With distributed mission training, we’re not just connecting simulators – we’re connecting pilots and strengthening operations for 21st century security,” says Raashi Quattlebaum, vice president of F-35 Training and Logistics at Lockheed Martin. “F-35 pilots can build the skills and confidence they need to dominate the skies and execute their missions by training together in a virtual environment.”
Lockheed Martin and the RAAF successfully connected the two sites over 2,800 km apart for distributed mission training (DMT). DMT connects F-35 simulators across borders, enabling seamless training exercises between F-35 pilots stationed worldwide. By providing large-force training capabilities, DMT allows pilots to practice complex scenarios and build the necessary skills for real-world missions.
“Establishing a distributed mission training network between RAAF bases Williamtown and Tindal provides Australia with an advanced training capability that will enhance the readiness of its pilots while reducing the sustainment costs of its 72 F-35As — the largest fleet of Joint Strike Fighters outside of the US,” says Rob Weitzman, Lockheed Martin Program Director for F-35 Australia. “Lockheed Martin has established our most significant F-35 sustainment presence outside the US in Australia, and we are proud to work with the Department of Defence and our local industry partners to deliver this record-breaking training capability milestone.”
Within the F-35 complete mission simulator, pilots can engage in realistic and immersive training exercises over a secure network. This option provides a safe and efficient learning environment to try new exercises and techniques. It also allows for more repetitions of an exercise in a single training session and reduces the aircraft’s sustainment costs.
Lockheed Martin is the sustainment lead for the RAAF’s F-35 fleet, partnering with local industry suppliers, including Milskil, to deliver pilot training solutions at RAAF bases Williamtown and Tindal. Over 75 Australian companies have shared over AUD$5 billion in contracts to support the F-35 program through advanced manufacturing, supply chain solutions, and sustainment services.
The Lockheed Martin team has trained over 2,915 F-35 pilots and 18,105 F-35 maintainers, operating from 30 customer bases worldwide. The F-35 complete mission simulator has proven to be a game changer in pilot training. By fully replicating the hardware and software of the actual aircraft, pilots can experience a seamless transition to real-world missions.