Aircrew members representing the French (Armée de l’Air) and German (Luftwaffe) air forces made history as the first-ever binational C-130J Super Hercules squadron to complete training together. The training took place at the France Germany Multinational Training Center (FGMTC), on the Évreux-Fauville Air Base, a facility built and equipped by Lockheed Martin (Defence Park G1 | 004 – Chalets East 26-29), in partnership with the French Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) and the German Federal Ministry of Defence.

“This training centre reinforces Lockheed Martin’s commitment to bolster allied defense,” said Ray Piselli, vice president of international business development for Lockheed Martin. “Our goal is to ensure every pilot and maintainer is mission ready.”

Lockheed Martin broke ground on the training centre in 2021 as part of a direct commercial sale contract with France’s DGA, which includes training devices, the learning management system, courseware and options for additional training services. Lockheed Martin’s reconfigurable C-130J full flight simulator was declared ready for training by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) in April 2024. 

The squadron consists of a combined 10 Super Hercules aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, including six from Germany and four from France. France has received its two C-130J-30 airlifters and two KC-130J tankers, while Germany has received its three C-130J-30s and three KC-130Js. This is the first and only binational C-130J squadron in Hercules history.

While the FGMTC contract is the first established business relationship between Lockheed Martin and France’s DGA, Lockheed Martin has been the leading global provider of C-130J training for 28 years.

“Lockheed Martin has proven experience creating turnkey training facilities, as evidenced by the more than 1,000 aircrews and maintenance personnel who have trained at our Hercules Training Center,” said Jonathon Wells, vice president of Air and Commercial Solutions for Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems business area. “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.”