Simaero Completes the Modernization Program of the Tanker Aircraft C135 Simulator for the French Air Force, Supporting the French Nuclear Task Force

At the end of 2020, Simaero has delivered a major modernization upgrade project for the Boeing C135-FR flight simulator operated by the Strategic Air Forces (FAS) of the French Air Force.

This significant operation ensures the sustainability of the simulator with the aim of continued and improved training the crews of the tanker planes based in Istres, in southeastern France, and working on nuclear deterrence and air operations.

The simulator received a collimated visual system with 180°x 40° field of view, a new electronic interface and an instructor station fully adapted to this machine. The mobilization of Simaero teams and partners despite the COVID-19 pandemic made it possible to minimize its impact and ensure on-time delivery of the project, without negative consequences on the operational use of the simulator.

"This project was a very high technical challenge on a simulator which is now 50 years old, and was essential to ensure the best quality of training" indicates Cyril Fabre, managing director of Simaero defense and government services. "This operation is a success, but above all we are very happy with the satisfaction of the FAS who now have a reliable and modernized tool. The various evolutions carried out on this simulator are for us a demonstration of all of our technical know-how in flight simulation".

Partner of Sabena Technics since 2008, SIMAERO ensures the maintenance in operational conditions and the evolutions of the simulator. Previously SIMAERO performed the upgrades to the aircraft standard including a change of computer (rehosting) in 2016 with the rewriting of the simulation program allowing the integration of new avionics (TCAS, Weather Radar, FMS, Fuel Management Panel, GPS).

These successful integrations allow the FAS to train on a simulator configured to be identical to the aircraft and fully upgradeable.

SIMAERO would like to thank its partners RSI, SIMEQUIP and Ateliers des Graves for the quality of their achievements and their responsiveness, as well as the French Air Force and the French Defence Procurement Agency for their trust and involvement.