99% uptime over nearly two decades: U.S. Air Force extends Collins Aerospace contract to support JSTARS aircrew simulators for another 10 years

  • Overcomes training system obsolescence, provides cybersecurity updates and maximizes uptime to maintain aircrew readiness

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Dec. 2, 2019) – After nearly two decades of providing sustainment support, Collins Aerospace Systems has received a 10-year extension from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide services critical to maintaining the training system for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft. The system includes full flight simulators and navigator training terminals located at Robins Air Force Base. Collins Aerospace is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

With a track record of 99-percent uptime over the life of the contract, Collins Aerospace will continue to help the USAF overcome obsolescence of the training system by providing cybersecurity updates, hardware upkeep as required and provide onsite logistics to assure maximum uptime.

“With the missions having anywhere from four to 15 aircrew involved, training system uptime is crucial for an effective rotation to maintain readiness,” said Nick Gibbs, vice president and general manager, Simulation and Training Solutions for Collins Aerospace. “We are proud to support the critical JSTARS mission by providing sustainable training readiness.”

The JSTARS training system is made up of two Collins Aerospace full-flight simulators as well as two navigator training stations that provide simultaneous training for both pilots and crew. Beyond the E-8C JSTARS, Collins Aerospace has been providing broad-scope, complex simulation and training systems for other platforms that include the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, B-52 Stratofortress and E-6B Mercury for over 15 years.

About Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and broad expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With 195,000 employees and four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

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