CAE USA Wins $300M USAF C-130H Training Contract to 2035

CAE USA has secured a $300 million competitive recompete contract from the United States Air Force (USAF) to continue providing training services for the Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules platform through December 2035.

Announced in a press release on September 21, 2026, the award extends the company’s role as the prime contractor for the C-130H Aircrew Training System (ATS). CAE USA has held this position since winning the initial contract in 2018. The agreement ensures uninterrupted mission readiness training for U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel operating the tactical airlifter.

Training infrastructure and locations

Under the terms of the extended contracts, CAE USA will manage and operate a comprehensive network of training hardware. The company is responsible for maintaining nine C-130H full-mission simulators and 45 aircrew training devices.

Training delivery will continue across five military installations within the continental United States. These sites include Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB) in Arkansas, Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Georgia, Wyoming Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Minneapolis ANGB in Minnesota, and St. Joseph ANGB in Missouri.

Corporate perspective and strategic value

Company executives emphasized the importance of continuity in military training programs. Srini Dixit, interim vice president and general manager of CAE Defense and Security, USA, noted the ongoing relevance of the aircraft to military operations.

“The C-130H remains a critical platform for the U.S. Air Force and CAE is proud to continue delivering the training excellence required to support mission readiness and operational success,” Dixit stated.

Dixit added that as the incumbent provider, the company is focused on evolving the training system to meet shifting military requirements. Nick Coucoules, vice president of airlift and tanker programs at CAE USA, highlighted the trust placed in the company’s multidisciplinary team amid a changing defense landscape.

AirPro News analysis

Securing this recompete contract is a significant retention win for CAE USA, locking in a steady revenue stream over the next nine years. By maintaining its status as the prime contractor for the C-130H ATS, we see CAE reinforcing its footprint within the U.S. defense training sector. The military’s decision to stick with the incumbent provider suggests a prioritization of continuity for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units, which rely heavily on the legacy C-130H for tactical airlift and airdrop missions.

Sources: CAE Inc.