Lockheed Martin has signed a Direct Commercial Sale contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense to supply an S-70i Black Hawk Full Flight Simulator, a Virtual Maintenance Trainer and associated courseware to the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The contract will help the PAF establish in-country training capabilities for pilots and maintenance personnel operating its Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter fleet. The aircraft are used for search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, firefighting and troop transport across the Philippine archipelago.
The agreement is the first order for Lockheed Martin’s S-70i Black Hawk training devices and expands the company’s training and simulation business. It also supports the Philippines’ wider defence modernisation programme by enabling more training to be conducted locally.
The S-70i Black Hawk Full Flight Simulator uses a digital twin of the aircraft to reproduce the sights and sensations of flying the helicopter. The system is designed to help pilots practise flight procedures and develop operational skills in a simulated environment.
The Virtual Maintenance Trainer uses detailed, physics-based models of the helicopter’s systems, including hydraulics and avionics. It will allow maintenance personnel to train in an immersive environment without working directly on operational aircraft.
Tim James, Vice President of Air and Commercial Solutions at Lockheed Martin, said the contract would support the PAF as it expands its S-70i Black Hawk fleet. He said the agreement represented a long-term investment in the force’s mission readiness and would provide training and sustainment support across the aircraft’s operational lifecycle.
William Blair, Vice President and Regional Chief Executive for Asia and India at Lockheed Martin, said the training systems would support the Philippine Air Force’s requirements as its helicopter fleet grows. He added that the programme would help crews and maintenance personnel remain prepared for operational duties. The contract includes sustainment services and spare parts support through 2032. While the PAF establishes its domestic training capability, its pilots will continue to receive training at the Sikorsky Training Academy in the United States.
Lockheed Martin offers Black Hawk training systems ranging from desktop trainers to fully immersive virtual environments. The company uses digital-twin technology to reproduce aircraft systems, components and configurations, while a digital thread of the Black Hawk’s operational flight programme helps it develop high-fidelity simulations in shorter timeframes as the aircraft is updated. Beyond the Black Hawk, Lockheed Martin provides training systems for several other military aircraft, including the CH-53K helicopter, F-35 and F-16 fighter aircraft, and C-130J transport aircraft.
