HII division awarded $182M Air Force contract

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ McLean-based Mission Technologies division was awarded a five-year, $182 million task order to provide logistics support for U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot training devices, HII announced Thursday.

The contract involves HII and subcontractor Trident Military Systems performing engineering maintenance for the Air Force’s Mission Tactics Trainer Training System Support Center, which supports and sustains F-16 aircraft simulator systems used by the U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command and the U.S. Navy.

Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ global security group, said in a statement it is “essential” that U.S. Air Force operators have world-class training devices in order to be combat-ready, calling them a “critical component” of national security.

“We look forward to applying our proven experience in aviation training, combined with Trident Military Systems’ simulation and training services expertise, to enhance mission effectiveness and pilot safety, and support distributed mission operations,” Lempke said in a statement.

According to a news release from HII, work will be performed primarily in Mesa, Arizona, and will complement HII’s existing contracts.

“We are pleased to add the Air National Guard F-16 MTT contract to HII’s ever-growing portfolio of U.S. Air Force aviation training programs,” John Scorsone, Mission Technologies’ director for modeling training and simulation, said in a statement.

Newport News-based HII is the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and the largest industrial employer in Virginia. The Fortune 500 company employs about 44,000 workers. The Mission Technologies division has more than 7,000 employees and more than 100 facilities globally.