Two of the world’s largest defense contractors, Maxar Intelligence and Lockheed Martin, signed a long-term agreement to accelerate procurement and delivery of geospatial information crucial to F-35 pilot training. The agreement will enhance the F-35 Full Mission Simulator, a key training tool with lifelike visuals and environments made possible by Maxar. The simulator has been used to school over 1,300 individuals already. The partnership standardizes pricing, licensing, and requirements for products like Dynamic and Precision3D, which generate high-resolution images and three-dimensional models of Earth.
Maxar’s geospatial products are vital to the success of the system, improving pilot safety and enhancing mission success. The Department of Defense is increasingly interested in computerized worlds, with the Army considering the metaverse as a recruiting tool and Navy leaders advocating for improved virtual testing techniques. The FMS is described as an industry gold standard for immersive training and mission readiness support.
Lockheed Martin, the largest defense contractor globally in terms of defense-related revenue, earned $63 billion in 2022. Maxar, ranked 77th, earned $952 million and was selected for additional work on One World Terrain, critical for the Army’s Synthetic Training Environment.
