French and German aircrews have completed training to operate C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft.
The activity, which marks the first time a binational C-130J Super Hercules Squadron trained together, was held at Evreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy, France.
Ten Super Hercules, including six from Germany and four from France, participated in the program.
The exercise was conducted at the France/Germany Multinational Training Center, a dedicated facility Lockheed Martin built in partnership with France’s Directorate General of Armament and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence.
“This training center reinforces Lockheed Martin’s commitment to bolster allied defense,” said Ray Piselli, vice president of international business development for Lockheed Martin.
The Maryland-headquartered aerospace company has been providing C-130J training for 28 years.
According to Jonathon Wells, vice president of air and commercial solutions for Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems, over 1,000 aircrews and maintenance personnel have sharpened their C-130J skills at the Hercules Training Center in Marietta, Georgia.
“We understand the requirements of developing a new workforce, the challenges of sustaining an existing workforce and the training structure needed to support the mission,” he said.
The French and German air forces launched the binational C-130J Super Hercules Squadron in September 2021. The squadron was created to provide joint air transport, support special forces operations, and jointly respond to crises.