MS&T Magazine - Issue 1 2014 by Halldale Group

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Volume 31 • Issue 1.2014

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Cyber Training

Training Cyber Warriors

National Focus

UK Search and Rescue S&T Industry

Industry Insider National Focus

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ISSUE 1.2014

Editorial comment

Seeking the Return The heady days of increasing defence budgets are over, much as then-Secretary of Defense Gates predicted three years ago in a speech at the Eisenhower Library, “The gusher has been turned off and will stay off for a good period of time”. "The return The gusher has indeed been turned off, and as Boswell would have observed, minds concenis about more trated. Burgeoning western defence budgets of than just the last few decades are no longer that, but rather are being reframed in the context of economics, leveraging domestic politics, and strategy ‘pivots’. Effects of constraints are evident, even in the simple metric technology to of reduced I/ITSEC 2013 registrations, which save money, were some 70% of 2011 registrations. Another effect is the emergent focus on ROI – return on which is an investment. Buyers expect to find ROI, and acute vendors are striving to provide it. important Last year at this time, we noted that a market benefit, but for essential training capabilities would continue, but the buying environment would evolve – and the impact it is evolving. The market is more competitive, and there is a focus on “readiness” gaps. Better on capability, Buying Power 2.0 was being showcased and thus readiness we suggested that readers could expect affordability caps, cost performance measures, active and morale alignment of requirements to budget, attention to industry profitability, performance based logistics, is just as, or and strengthened contract management, among even more, other things. The one thing we didn’t mention was ROI although one could argue that seeking return important.” on investment is implicit in the BBP 2.0 initiative, which continues. ROI is a core business concept. I recall speaking years ago with a civil aviation technical training manager who was quite specific about being able to relate his training technology initiatives to operational outcomes – if it didn’t support the goals of the company, and he had to demonstrate that it would, the proposal wouldn’t get approved. Military commanders are now embracing ROI in Jeff Loube their military/government environment Managing Editor as seriously as captains of industry are in their environments. VADM Thomas H Copeland, in his US Navy Surface Vision 2026 (http://www.public.navy. mil/surfor/pages/surface-vision-2026.asp) states his expectations for returns of technology investments:

“The role of simulation in the Navy is too often viewed through one of two lenses: 1) as a costsavings tool to reduce underway steaming costs, or 2) as a tactical training tool to provide better realism - in-theater environmental conditions, raid sizes, adversary capabilities - for our watchstanders. The role of simulation in the future of the Surface Force will be to use technological gains to both improve training and reduce cost for both tactical and technical endeavors. Initial estimates (not final results) for the high-fidelity LCS trainers are that once all of the high-fidelity trainers are in place in 2016, the number of underway steaming days required for crew certification will go from 39 days to 15 days, per work-up cycle per crew.” The vision goes on to add: “Emerging technologies will enable cost savings and improved advanced tactical and individual training. This is a key component of maintaining our technical and tactical edge.” The return is about more than just leveraging technology to save money, which is an important benefit, but the impact on capability, readiness and morale is just as, or even more, important. Technology is an enabler of training ROI; it may be necessary, but it is not sufficient. It is in the business of training and in programme redesign enabled by technology where the benefits are to be found. Training technologies invariably affect the three p’s – policies, procedures and practices – and those seeking ROI for training technology initiatives need to take a systems view if they wish to maximize the returns. It is argued by strategists that the most effective strategies in foreign policy today require a mix of hard and soft power resources – smart power – and strategies that employ only hard or soft power strategies will prove inadequate. Smart training strategies, likewise, require a mix of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ strategies that combine the hard power of technology with the soft power strategies of training design and training business process evolution. And it is in smart training that we will find the elusive ROI that will meet the needs of commanders - reduced cost and improved readiness.

Jeff Loube, CPT MS&T Managing Editor

jeff@halldale.com MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Contents

ISSUE 1.2014

MS&T Magazine Military Simulation & Training Magazine

Editorial Editor in Chief Chris Lehman e. chris@halldale.com Managing Editor Jeff Loube e. jeff@halldale.com Group Editor Marty Kauchak e. marty@halldale.com Procurement Chuck Weirauch e. chuck@halldale.com US News Editor Lori Ponoroff e. lori@halldale.com RoW News Editor Fiona Greenyer e. fiona@halldale.com Advertising Director of Sales Jeremy Humphreys & Marketing t. +44 (0)1252 532009 e. jeremy@halldale.com Sales Representative Justin Grooms USA (East) & Canada t. 407 322 5605 e. justin@halldale.com Sales Representative Chris Richman Europe, Middle East t. +44 (0)1252 532007 & Africa e. chrisrichman@halldale.com Sales & Marketing Karen Kettle Co-ordinator t. +44 (0)1252 532002 e. karen@halldale.com Marketing Manager Ian Macholl t. +44 (0)1252 532008 e. ian@halldale.com

03 Looking for ROI. ROI can be elusive. Managing Editor Jeff Loube

suggests it can be found in ‘smart’ training. 06 Cyber. Cyber warfare is a growing reality and the DoD is growing the

force in response. Chuck Weirauch speaks with USCYBERCOM J7, Col. George Lamont. 10 SARTU. The Search and Rescue Training Unit specialises in training

the UK rotary wing SAR force, and it is coming to the end of an era. MS&T’s Dim Jones explains. 14 Live Combat Training in the Swiss Army. After two decades of

evolution and development, the Swiss Army has accepted the final component of their combat training system. Walter F. Ullrich writes. 18 Industry Insider. Group Editor Marty Kauchak had the opportunity

On the cover: Cyber operations at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Image credit: US Air Force/Boyd Belcher.

Operations Design & David Malley Production t. +44 (0)1252 532005 e. david@halldale.com Distribution & Stephen Hatcher Circulation t. +44 (0)1252 532010 e. stephen@halldale.com Artworker Daryl Horwell t. +44 (0)1252 532011 e. daryl@halldale.com Halldale Media Group Publisher & Andy Smith CEO e. andy@halldale.com UK Office Halldale Media Ltd. Pembroke House 8 St. Christopher’s Place Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0NH, UK t. +44 (0)1252 532000 f. +44 (0)1252 512714 US Office Halldale Media, Inc. 115 Timberlachen Circle Ste 2009, Lake Mary FL 32746, USA t. +1 407 322 5605 f. +1 407 322 5604 Subscriptions 5 issues per year at US$110 t. +44 (0)1252 532000 e. mst@halldale.com

to speak with leaders from three S&T companies during I/ITSEC 2013. 21 ITEC 2014. The organisers have high hopes for this year’s show in

Cologne. Walter F. Ullrich reports. 22 Drive on Moscow. In this regular feature Michael Peck explores the

intersection of games and military training. 24 I/ITSEC 2013. MS&T editors report on I/ITSEC 2013. 28 Seen & Heard. Updates from the training and simulation community.

Compiled and edited by Fiona Greenyer.

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – especially translating into other languages - without prior written permission of the publisher. All rights also reserved for restitution in lectures, broadcasts, televisions, magnetic tape and methods of similar means. Each copy produced by a commercial enterprise serves a commercial purpose and is thus subject to remuneration. MS&T (ISSN 1471-1052) is published five times per year in February, May, August, September, November by Halldale Group.

Cyber Training

Training Cyber Warriors Chuck Weirauch overviews the situation and discusses USCYBERCOM training issues with J7 Col. George Lamont.

n 2013, the Obama Administration alleged China, Russia and Iran had hacked into US government and defense contractor computer systems. Cyber attacks continue. There is every indication that they are on the increase, with literally millions of attempts by hackers to disrupt military and civilian operations almost every day around the world. What could be the next Cold War, the cyber war, is already upon us with the potential to cause more strategic and economic damage and chaos throughout the world than any "hot" war in the past. In response to this growing threat to US national security, the $1.1 trillion US 2014 Fiscal Year Budget recently approved by Congress and signed by President Obama reportedly appropriates $13 billion of the Department of Defense's $487 billion allocation to cyber security. While this amount is spread among all of the country's national security agencies and each military service's cyber operations, it is notable that the US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) will receive $447 million in FY 2014, more than double its 2013 funding of $191 million. With the DoD declaring that cyber attacks are a top security threat, USCYBERCOM is anticipating rapid growth, predicting an increase in its workforce from the current 900 employees to 4,900 by 2016. In addition, each US military service expects to significantly expand its cyber security workforce by that time as well.

Mission focus The core of the USCYBERCOM mission is to defend DoD infor06

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mation networks against cyber attacks. In addition to defensive operations, however, the Command also plans and conducts offensive "full-spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure US and Allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to adversaries." According to the Command's Web site, USCYBERCOM's mission includes "unify the direction of DoD cyberspace operations, strengthen DoD cyberspace capabilities, and integrate and bolster DoD's cyber expertise." USCYBERCOM is also tasked with designing the DoD cyber force structure, along with the development of training requirements and certification standards for the US service cyber elements. These service elements include the Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER); the Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER); the Navy's Fleet Cyber Command (FLTCYBERCOM) and Marine Forces Cyber Command (MARFORCYBER). All of these elements conduct training programs for their own cyber warfare personnel.

Above Personnel of the 624th Operations Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, conduct cyber operations in support of the command and control of Air Force network operations and the joint requirements of Air Forces Cyber, the Air Force component of U.S. Cyber Command. Image credit: US Air Force/William Belcher. Opposite Colonel George H. Lamont, US Air Force. Image credit: US DoD.

Cyber Training and Exercise Environments Cyber security experts point out that the simulation of cyber warfare is critical to decision-makers in developing strategies and tactics for offensive and defensive operations, and essential for cyber warfare training. After several months of initial individual and simulated Internet team training, US cyber warriors throughout the DoD and other government security agencies can participate in networked live joint training exercises known as Cyber Flags. These annual events are planned and coordinated by USCYBERCOM. The goal of the exercises is to deter and/or defeat a cyber attack against a DoD installation, while developing both offensive and defensive strategies and tactics to combat new types of threats. These exercises are conducted on military service networks, one of which is the Air Force's Simulator Training Exercise (SIMTEX) range at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. During Cyber Flag 1-13, the SIMTEX Range Global Internet (RGI) capability was employed to provide a realistic World Wide Web framework that allows for training in an environment similar to the live Internet. When conducting training via the RGI feature, users experience the same environment as if they were on the real Internet, including social media sites. The Air Force frequently uses SIMTEX for the training of its own cyber security personnel.

USCYBERCOM Training To gain an insight as to the overall USCYBERCOM training effort, MS&T interviewed Air Force Col. George Lamont, who has been its Director, Exercise and Training (J7) since that Command became operational in 2010. Col. Lamont is responsible for planning, direction and execution of operational training, exercises and other events to maintain, assess and certify USCYBERCOM force readiness. Colonel Lamont works with Combatant Commands, DoD components, United States government agencies and private industry to develop, manage, schedule, and conduct individual, staff and collective joint training events as directed by the Commander.

MS&T: How much of a role does simulation-based courseware play in cyber warfare training? Col. George Lamont: Our current focus is using simulation-based technology for collective training; however, we are looking to leverage this technology to accelerate individual training opportunities as well. Because most training is done on closed networks, it is necessary to simulate network activity to make the training environment more realistic. At times, we also use simulated malware as a means to meet training objectives without unnecessarily risking the operational environment. MS&T: Please describe the training curricula for cyber warfare personnel in terms of personnel qualifications, length of courses and areas of emphasis. GL: We maintain joint "common" training standards so that all of our cyberspace professionals have the same baseline of skills necessary to operate in this complex domain. Our technical tradecraft requires skills to perform tasks in information technology/information assurance (IT/IA), certified ethical hacking (CEH), testing and evaluation, Network Defense (to include skills like auditing, incident response, infrastructure support), server administration, engineering, technical support, knowledge management, and information security. Initial training for our cyber service members takes several months on average; that's just to get started. To be qualified at the advanced level in a joint

operational environment can take several additional months depending on the particular job. We have developed the joint cyber training standards, in order for services to leverage existing solutions and develop new ones to grow required skill sets to conduct our missions. We also developed a four-phase training model to assist in meeting that goal of common individual and collective training standards for the Cyber Mission Forces: Phase I - Feeder Courses: Individual feeder courses are based on Service cyber skill-producing training which generates initial Army Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), Navy Rating, and Marine MOS. Phase II - Foundation Training: Foundation training is designed around particular mission force work categories and common position skills training. Joint Qualification Requirements (JQR) and On-the-Job Training (OJT) provide team members mission specific knowledge and skills. In addition to individual training in Phase I and Phase II, mission specific staff/element training is interspersed in order to support the assigned team's specific mission. Phase III - Collective: Sub-element and Team mission essential task standards are verified and validated though "mini-events", team certification events, and Cyber War Games. Phase IV - Sustainment: Sustainment ensures training objectives in the established pipeline courses and OJT activities remain current. Sustainment requires all refresh training and certification requirements to be identified. Sustainment also helps inform mission teams career development paths. The final objective of sustainment is to advise the command on mission team readiness through assessment activities. MS&T: What emphasis is placed over individual and team-based training? GL: Individual and team training are both critical to develop the technical skills needed to operate and defend DoD networks, support combatant commanders and defend the nation in cyberspace against foreign adversaries. Our cyber professionals are constantly learning, as this domain and technology are ever changing. Through direct engagement M S & T M AGA Z INE 1 . 2 0 1 4

Cyber Training with subject matter experts across the force, we are able to identify perceived gaps, work with training providers to develop solutions, and continually improve both individual and collective training capabilities. One of the ways we have to identify collective training gaps is through exercises, such as Cyber Flag, an annual joint, interagency exercise conducted at Nellis Air Force Base. MS&T: I have heard that in cyber warfare, a good offense is often the best defense. At what stage in training do personnel engage in exercises where they can demonstrate this strategy, and how do you train for it? GL: All individuals share foundational knowledge in computer network defense. Some dive deeper than others depending on the work we expect them to do, but all have a common appreciation for network defense challenges. Individuals engage in exercises to develop and demonstrate both defensive and offensive (in the form of Red Teams) abilities once all individual training is complete and they've joined a team. MS&T: What team training exercises are scheduled for 2014, and how will they be integrated into the training curricula? GL: USCYBERCOM wrapped up its third-annual Cyber Flag exercise Nov. 8 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 11-day exercise integrated cyber professionals from across the Department of Defense to test their knowledge and skills against a realistic adversary on a closed network. Joint, combined, and interagency forces fused cyber defense and offense skills across the full spectrum of operations. These forces applied new and developing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for the Cyber Mission Force (CMF) and coalition teams, which will ultimately enable cyberspace operators to rapidly detect, assess, mitigate, and respond in real time to cyber threats to DoD networks. We have built a series of command exercises developed to evaluate our teams across the cyber continuum. The Cyber Knight series is used to exercise individual teams and certify their aligned mission execution. Cyber Guard is an annual opportunity to hone our ability to execute the broader ‘defend the nation’ 08

mission with our inter-agency partners. Cyber Flag is our capstone annual event, in which we exercise a regional conflict with full-spectrum cyberspace operations combined with the ongoing ‘defend the nation’ mission. Each exercise has a different scope and purpose, yet allows the lessons learned from each to build upon and inform the next event in the continuum. We have a rigorous schedule for 2014, which will require multiple series in order to meet our training objectives. MS&T: What types of technology are employed, will be employed in cyber warfare training or are considered to be or proven to be the most effective? Here I am asking about the use of gamebased technology, virtual worlds, online courseware, debriefing tools, etc and any research or upcoming initiatives in this area. GL: One of the most important tools we use in training is the cyber range. The cyber range allows many participants to operate on a closed network and assess how their actions affect the network in real time. MS&T: Are there are there any initiatives that integrate the concept of live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training? GL: While we are thinking about LVC concepts and continuing to evolve our training curriculum, our current focus is on training the Cyber Mission Force to the joint standards using tools already at our disposal. MS&T: What do you consider to be some of the most vital challenges for cyber warfare training? GL: The biggest challenge in training is not necessarily training the force,

Cyber Flag 14-1 participants, analyze an exercise scenario in the red flag building at Nellis Air Force Base. Image credit: US Air Force/Christopher Tam.

but effective recruitment, retention, and employment to fully develop specialized expertise. With more targeted recruiting, we welcome members to the team with an already strong foundation. With a personnel model that enables competition with industry for talent, we stand a better chance of retaining the expertise we build. There are some initiatives within the Services to potentially provide incentives for retention, and they are working on creating career paths dedicated to this mission area so our cyber warriors are competitive for promotions and awards with their peers from other areas. By growing and retaining these forces, which will eventually enter cyberspace leadership positions, we will have the professional, knowledgeable and capable force we need. MS&T: How does and can the M&S training industry assist Cyber Command in its mission? GL: We work with industry in numerous ways to include our exercises as mentioned earlier (and particularly Cyber Guard, during which we have active industry participation). We also collaborate with industry along with academia and other partners to explore new and innovative ideas to improve content delivery, quality, and retention of training in this demanding and dynamic domain. This is certainly an area where modeling and simulation can assist. mst

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National Focus

Search and Rescue MS&T’s Dim Jones describes training at the UK SAR Training Unit, a part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, and observes the end of an era.

he RAF’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Force was created in February 1941, following a meeting convened by Air Marshal Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris, in order to address the issue of the number of downed Allied aircrew lost in the English Channel during the Battle of Britain; the initial fixed-wing aircraft gave way to helicopters in the 50s. Meanwhile, the RN used helicopters for SAR from the time they were introduced to service on HM Ships and, in 1953, formed SAR flights at seven RN shore bases in UK. Since then, although intended for the recovery of military aircrew (which remains its primary role), the SAR force has saved, or assisted in saving, the lives of countless merchant seamen and civilians, earning the lasting gratitude of their beneficiaries, and justified recognition by the public for their professionalism and bravery. The service until recently could boast of HRH Prince William as an operational RAF SAR captain, and this has served to heighten the role of the SAR Force in the public consciousness. I can also say from personal experience that there are few better sights than the approach of a ‘big yellow budgie’, when one is sat in a dinghy

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

which was not one’s preferred mode of transport when one started the journey.

SARTU SAR is something of a ‘dark art’, even to those engaged in other rotary wing activities, and many aircrew, particularly rear crew, remain in the role for most or all of their flying careers. Operations from some bases where there is no other air activity, plus the lifestyle demanded of on-call shift work, can also lead to a slight detachment from mainstream operations. SAR is a challenging and, on occasion, hazardous business, demanding exceptional individual flying and operating ability, teamwork of the highest order and, since the life of one crew member can – and frequently does – depend on another, absolute trust. It follows, therefore, that the standard of training required is extremely high. The Search and Rescue Training Unit (SARTU) is a part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS), and is based at Valley, the location of which affords easy access to sea, coastlines and cliffs, and the mountains of Snowdonia. Pilots destined for SAR will either come direct from training, or on posting

from the Support Helicopter (SH) force. In the former case, they will have undergone elementary training on the Grob Tutor, been streamed to RW, and arrived at DHFS for a composite course, firstly on the single-engined Squirrel and then on the twin-engined Griffin, a derivative of the Bell 412. During the Griffin course, students will undergo a two week training module at SARTU, which will include the basics of SAR – dry-, drum- and deck-winching (wet-winching may be introduced in the future), mountain flying and transfers to an inshore rescue boat (IRB). At the end of the DHFS course, pilots receive their ‘wings’, and those with both the aptitude and desire to fly SAR will arrive back at SARTU en-route to the OCU and front line. Those destined for Winch Operator and Winchman duties will have undergone aptitude testing for rear crew at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at Cranwell, and subsequently generic rear crew training, from which they emerge as Weapons Systems Operators (WSOps). Those streamed to RW will then move straight to the Griffin squadron at DHFS, during which they will train in both SH and SAR disciplines. On completion of

Above A Griffin helicopter of SARTU conducts 'wets' training off the coast of Anglesey. Image credit: RAF/Crown Copyright. Opposite The HCR classroom set-up. Image credit: Virtalis.

the DHFS course, those selected for SAR will move to SARTU to join their flight deck colleagues. A word here about the nuances of SAR might be apposite, from one who has dabbled in it just sufficiently to appreciate how far removed it is from being as easy as the professionals make it look. For the pilots, the job of flying the helicopter in SAR is fairly standard, although the conditions in which one might be required to do so are most certainly not. The mountains of Snowdonia, although small by global standards (indeed, not high enough to be classed as foothills to the major ranges of the world) nevertheless - by virtue of their distinctive geography and weather - create unique challenges. Neither is hovering close to a ship rolling in a Force 8 gale at night, avoiding the superstructure and gyrating masts while trying to place a Winchman safely on the deck, run-of-themill helicopter flying. However, it is ‘down the back’ where the real learning from scratch is done at SARTU. The rear crewman is trained for two quite different jobs, and they are interchangeable. The Winch Operator (WinchOp) does what it says on the tin – he controls the winch and its cable, on the end of which hangs his crew-mate the Winchman. However, he also has to interpret the signals given to him by the Winchman, and convert these into directions for the pilot, who may not be able to see what is going on, and is probably quite busy enough avoiding gyrating masts or mountainside; the WinchOp also has to monitor the height and general safety of the aircraft. Directions are somewhat complicated by the fact that the WinchOp is looking out of the aircraft (and down) from the side door, which is at an angle of 90º to the axis of the aircraft. Therefore, what he is seeing as left and right is, in fact, forward and back to the pilot, and this is how any instructions must be relayed. The Winchman, meanwhile, is attempting to manoeuvre himself into a safe position to recover a survivor from the water, or to make a landing on the deck or on the ground.

Simulation Attempting these duties for the first time in a real aircraft would be a nerve-wracking experience, although it was done before the advent of effective simulation.

The simulation equipment at SARTU may not look like the inside of a Level-D FMS, but it is effective. ‘The Parrot’ is a fuselage section of an old Argentinian Huey, liberated from the Falklands, and mounted 20 feet up on the hangar wall, with a crew door, working winch and room for a WinchOp and instructor. The ‘ground’ is presently the hangar floor, covered by a mat. However, a new ‘floor’ – configurable as either terrain or deck – is being manufactured and supplied by an unlikely source - King Kong Climbing Walls of Threlkeld Quarry, Cumbria. The latest, and most effective, piece of simulation equipment at SARTU is the Helicopter Crew Reality (HCR) system, an offthe-shelf product manufactured by Virtalis of Sale, Cheshire. The equipment – which can be housed in a medium-sized office – comprises: a physical structure representing the rear door of a Bell 412; an instructor’s Scenario Control Interface; and a joystick control. The WinchOp wears a head-mounted display, fitted with a tracking system, through which he can see a virtual model of the helicopter and his Winchman, and 3D landscape and seascape, with environmental conditions including sea states 1 to 6 and variable levels of rain, fog, lighting and shadow. The ‘aircraft’ can be flown by either the instructor or another pilot, responding to the WinchOp’s commands. The instructor station is a multiscreen point-and-click display, from which the instructor can pre-programme, run, monitor, save and replay scenarios. There are three databases for the visual system, Shawbury, Valley and a generic called ‘Tracy Island’, and they include multiple moving target objects, such as trucks, barrels, casualties, ships and other vessels, life rafts and oil rigs. SAR-specific functions include fixed and pendant hoist controls with a physical cable-cutter switch, and HCR can simulate a range of emergency scenarios which are too dangerous or difficult to simulate in the air, including winch failure, jam and runaway, and engine failure. HCR is a procedural trainer, rather than a winching simulator, but correct procedures are vital in SAR. The commentary must be absolutely standard; distance is measured in units (each unit equating to two metres), and height in units of five feet. The standard winching height over land is 20 feet, and over sea 50 ft and since, for a given cable extension, errors in height translate directly to the clearance of the Winchman from the surface or other objects, accurate height monitoring is extremely important. HCR has now been in service at SARTU for 10 years, albeit much enhanced during that time, the latest upgrade being within the last year; there is no doubt in the minds of the instructing staff that it improves MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

National Focus the performance of the students in the air, and significantly reduces the sortie failure rate. Since the system costs roughly the equivalent of 40 flying hours, this would seem like a good investment.

ant in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, 203 Squadron, the Sea King Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), and the RAF’s SAR Force HQ, are collocated with 22 Sqn at Valley.

Rear Crew Training Sortie

Changes

In the air, each rear crew training sortie is flown twice, with the students exchanging WinchOp and Winchman roles. This requires four rear crew – two students and two instructors – which means that, in order to maintain Safe Single-Engine (SSE) performance, the Griffin normally carries only the staff pilot; pilot training sorties are effected with instructor and student pilots, and staff WinchOp, Winchman and, when required, ‘survivor’. This means that front and rear crew courses are conducted in parallel, rather than integrated, although occasionally students will fly together. There is a Griffin flight deck simulator at Shawbury, but no composite front and rear crew simulator. The challenge for the pilot is to be able to operate the aircraft safely in a variety of scenarios and situations. The course starts with ‘dry winching’, conducted over land, first on flat terrain and then undulating. Once the basics are mastered, the scenario changes to over-sea, first winching ‘drums’, then ‘wets’, with a real survivor, either in the water or in a dinghy. Lastly ‘decks’ involves the transfer of people and equipment between the helicopter and all parts of a vessel, including the use of a high line, which allows such transfer without the helicopter being in the vessel’s overhead. The phase culminates in ‘opportunity decks’ where the students winch to any vessel they can find, such as ferries, tankers and fishing boats. Next up is cliff winching or ‘situations’, in which the students are presented with scenarios of increasing complexity. The last phase is in the mountains, where the challenges presented in the cliffs phase can be compounded by weather and by wind updraughts and downdraughts, the latter of which – if not anticipated and handled correctly – can exceed the power capability of the aircraft. There are also visual illusions. Making a straight approach to a mountain peak or a sharp ridge may look simple; trust me, it isn’t. I have also experienced the delights of ‘leaning lake’, a

There are major changes ahead for the UK SAR force, prompted equally by the continuing quest for economies in the defence budget and by the imminent retirement of the stalwart Sea King. On 26th March this year, the MoD announced that, with effect from 2015, the UK SAR helicopter force will be run by The Bristow Group, ending 70 years of RAF/RN operations. Under the 10-year contract, 22 helicopters will operate from 10 locations around the UK. There will be two Sikorsky-92s at each of Stornoway, Sumburgh, Newquay (Cornwall), Caernarfon (North Wales) and Humberside (North Lincolnshire), and two AgustaWestland 189s at Prestwick, Lee-on-Solent, St Athan (South Wales), Manston (Kent) and Inverness (Scottish Highlands). The debate on civilianisation of the SAR force has been going on for some time and, unsurprisingly, opinions vary widely about how effective the new service will be. Suffice to say that the aircraft will be more modern and just as capable, and it is likely that many of the aircrew will be either ex-RAF/RN SAR, or currently serving aircrew who will be allowed to leave the military in order to take up posts with the contractor. In the meantime, this change does not spell the end of the road for SARTU. On the contrary, there is continuing need for SAR capability in RN vessels at sea and elsewhere; SARTU already instructs the Merlin Operators Lead-In Course (MOLIC), and this training may be expanded to include Lynx and Royal Marine aircrew when, as expected, RAF Merlins are transferred to the RM. There will probably be a ‘darkening of the blue’ in the composition of the staff, to reflect the changing role, and an increased emphasis on operations involving Night Vision Devices, but the SARTU staff confidently expect to be as busy after the transition as they are now. Nevertheless, 2015 will mark the end of an era, and one whose passing will be mourned by many grateful customers such as myself. mst

The WinchOp's view of 'decks' training in the HCR. Image credit: Virtalis.

seemingly innocuous water feature in a bowl set into the side of a mountain, but a trap for the unwary. The culmination of the course is the Final Handling Test, which can include any or all of the above. Graduates of SARTU will move to 203 Squadron, the Sea King Operational Conversion Unit, before being deployed to a front-line flight. Currently, the airborne element of the UK’s SAR organisation is tripartite and covers the UK mainland and coastline, and RAF bases overseas. The Royal Navy, with Sea King Mk 5, has units at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall (771 Naval Air Squadron) and Prestwick, near Glasgow (HMS Gannet); however, all RN helicopters, particularly those flights embarked in destroyers and frigates, must necessarily have some SAR capability. There are also four Sikorsky S-92s and 3 AgustaWestland AW-139s, operated by CHC under contract to HM Coastguard, based at Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), Sumburgh (Shetland Islands), Lee-on-Solent (Hampshire) and Portland (Dorset). Lastly, the RAF has flights of 22 Squadron (Sea King HAR3/3A) based at Chivenor (Devon), Valley (Anglesey) and Wattisham (Suffolk), 202 Squadron (Sea King HAR3) at Leconfield (East Yorkshire), Boulmer (Northumberland) and Lossiemouth (Scottish Highlands), 84 Squadron (Griffin HAR2) at Akrotiri in Cyprus, and 1564 Flight (Sea King HAR3) at Mount Pleas-

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

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National Focus

Ready For Operation The Swiss army will be well served for decades to come as RUAG hands over the keys to the well proven SIM KIUG simulation platform. Walter F. Ullrich writes.

n October 4, 2013, Urs Breitmeier, CEO of RUAG Holding AG, and Oliver Meyer, Vice President Simulation and Training at RUAG Defence, handed over the system keys to the Simulation Platform SIM KIUG to Ulrich Appenzeller, Head of armasuisse, the Swiss armaments procurement organisation. The simulation system is designed for both basic individual training and the training of entire military units. It allows the Swiss ground forces to train all types of operations, from classic low- to high-intensity combat training and preparatory training for conflict prevention and crisis management. The delivery took place at the military garrison town of Walenstadt and marked the successful completion of a continuous development and gradual expansion phase which had lasted almost two decades

Training the Swiss Way There are hardly any other armed forces in the world that employ simulation more widely than the Swiss; they have simulators and training devices for practically every combat equipment and weapons system in the land and air forces. Swiss military commanders realised at an early stage the importance of good training tools and programmes, particularly when it comes to training recruits in a militia-type army. In 2000, on the occasion of the presentation of the first army live training capabilities to the public, Divisionär (Major General) Heinz Aschmann, then Commander Training Directorate of the Swiss Armed Forces, noted on the training ground at Sankt Luzisteig that such tools motivated troops; “Simulators promote pleasure in learning, and they invite their users to give their very best.” The Swiss Armed Forces essentially have two reasons for using simulation. The first is the country’s geographical situation: Useable space in mountainous Switzerland is limited. The 14

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Swiss military cannot just claim privileged use of the terrain, but has to reach agreement with the civil side. The Swiss habitat, which the armed forces protect, must remain intact. Economical use of resources and energy, and due consideration of fauna and flora are a matter of course. The desire to minimise the inevitable impact on civilian life and the environment is one reason for the widespread use of simulators in training. The second reason lies in the traditional Swiss militia system, which is quite unique. The Swiss Armed Forces are formed of 4,200 regular commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and 180,000 militiamen. Militiamen are “citizen soldiers” whose political and civil rights must be respected. During their 108 days of conscript training, the young citizens in uniform learn military basics. Subsequently, they improve proficiency and skills once a year over the course of three to four weeks of military reserve training exercises in their respective units. In this short space of time soldiers must be fully prepared for their mission. This is not done by force but by motivation. High-class training tools and methods, which are as productive as they are exciting and appealing to

Above Training village Aeuli. Image credit: Swiss Army. Opposite Figure 1 An earlier draft how to simulate fire support. Image credit: Swiss Army.

exercise participants, ensure the success of training which elsewhere requires the application of pressure. Industry also makes a substantial contribution to the training workflow, allowing cadres and trainees to concentrate on their military core business.

First Simulation Accomplishments in Live Training It was in the mid-1990s that Swiss militaries started considering simulation to improve the effectiveness of their ground forces’ training. In 1994, Colonel (G.S.) Peter Müller, then Commander of the Infantry Training Centre in Walenstadt, demonstrated in a very simple sketch how to simulate fire support. The thinking behind this was that whenever weapon effects affected a soldier in reality, the simulation system should also give him direct feedback during the exercise (see figure 1). Developments began in 1996. The first idea to limit simulation to artillery and mortar fire was quickly abandoned in favour of more ambitious “live simulation platforms”. Under the project management of armasuisse, the Swiss Army and RUAG Defence began setting up a core system for a platform that would support live training in open terrain using laserbased technologies on the training area in Sankt Luzisteig. In 2000, the Swiss Armed Forces officially launched SIMUG (the German acronym for Simulation Support for Combat Exercises). Within the scope of the SIMUG Combat Training Centre Programme, Switzerland bought eyesafe laser Class 1 simulators from the German company C.O.E.L. The twoway laser-based Tactical Engagement Simulators (TES) and Precision Gunnery Training Systems (PGTS) were elements of the COSIM (COelSIMulators) line that C.O.E.L. provided in partnership with Swiss Electronics. All the entities were integrated into a mobile, instrumented tactical training environment which was marketed internationally by the teaming companies as CODARTS (Combined Arms Direct Fire and Weapon Training System). The Swiss Army actually started using the new equipment – referred to as LASSIM (LASerSIMulators) – in field

exercises in summer 2000. The first SIMUG allowed force-on-force exercises for a maximum of 100 soldiers and 12 vehicles on 4 km2 of open terrain. It even provided the unique feature of the direct visualisation of artillery engagement in the field. Fire marker units transferred the weapon effects to the respective personnel around the simulated point of impact. A specific “kill code” took into account the reaction of the affected personnel. In that situation the correct reaction – withdrawal or taking cover – was rewarded and the soldier who reacted correctly survived. Obviously, the start-up system was neither perfect nor complete, yet it served as test bed for learning best practices. At that time, Major Jan Uebersax, from the Federal Office for Combat Troops, described the next steps as follows: “Based on our initial experiences, we can already see that the full system will have more functions integrated, such as combat net recording, vulnerability models and after-action review.”

Expansion of Live Training Since these early beginnings the use of simulation in live training has been continuously expanded and improved. The 2003 Swiss electorate’s approval of the military reform project “Army XXI” drastically reduced the size of the Swiss Army, yet it confirmed the importance of

training. The new concept widened the range of missions for the Swiss military, namely added peacekeeping operations to the heretofore sole mission to defend the country against military aggression. Also in 2003, the army leadership accepted the “Combat Training Centres” study, as well as the resultant master plan which identified the individual procurement steps, including WES (Weapons Effects Simulation), vehicle equipment and real estate. The Swiss Federal Council gave the go-ahead for SIMUG as part of the 2004 Armaments Programme. The SIMUG procurement, valued roughly at US$105m, encompassed two systems on the training areas in Bure and Sankt Luzisteig, as well as spares, logistics and maintenance equipment. The contract also stipulated that services relating to the operation of SIMUG had to be rendered by the armaments sector within the framework of a pilot experiment. The system in Bure was ready in July 2009; the keys for Sankt Luzisteig were handed over in August 2010. That same year, armasuisse commissioned RUAG Electronics, formerly Swiss Electronics, to add urban terrain training capabilities to SIMUG’s open terrain functions for the equivalent of US$135m. The state-owned RUAG Electronics was well prepared: In 2006 they had taken over the laser technology specialist C.O.E.L., which finally made RUAG one of the leaders in live simulation. The new system, dubbed SIM KIUG (which stands for “simulation support for training operations in built-up terrain environment”), was developed in very close cooperation between industry and the armed forces. Based on earlier SIMUG experiences, a core system was set up on site, using “mini” installations, which also served as an experience platform for the army and as a test bed for industry. This unorthodox procedure was to both parties’ advantage: the army gained early experience and provided constructive input in development decisions; on the other hand, the direct feedback from users lowered industry’s risk in regard to negative developments. The emerging SIM KIUG was indeed impressive, serving as a flagship installation for both the Swiss Army and industry during the build-up phase. Colonel MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

National Focus Max Fenner, at that time head of the Army Training Centre and a driving force behind efforts to establish top live training in Switzerland, rightly said about the new system: “With SIM KIUG we are realising a simulation platform at the two training centres that does not need to shy away from international comparison.”

Present Situation The Swiss Army’s Land Forces Training Centre (LFTC) was established in Walenstadt in eastern Switzerland in 2006. A central mission allocated to the LFTC is certified combat training. Such training is executed at the Combat Training Centre (CTC) West in Bure and the CTC East in Walenstadt; both are subordinated to the LFTC. At the CTC West, infantry, tank and armoured infantry units up to reinforced company level can train area protection and defence in open terrain (SIMUG), as well as in built-up areas (SIM KIUG). The training village of Nalé consists of 30 buildings, although these are not instrumented. The CTC East is mainly intended for combat and combat support units to train the full spectrum of use of force in area protection-type operations in both open and built-up terrain. The training site at Sankt Luzisteig, 20 km east of Walenstadt, is equipped with SIMUG and allows open terrain training up to a maximum of unit level on an area of 2.5km2. The RTS LFTC (RUAG Training Support Land Forces Training Centre) is located in the town of Mels, approximately halfway between Sankt Luzisteig and Walenstadt. This is where the LASSIM equipment for the troops and the combat vehicles is stored. However, the RTS’ tasks go far beyond armoury warehouse missions. The highly automated facility provides the Swiss Army with all the services it needs to run exercises with SIMUG and SIM KIUG – from the arrival of the personnel to their dismissal. The RTS handles everything but the real exercise and the after-action review (AAR). This cooperation model is truly a one-stop shop for end-to-end solutions. It is carried out by RUAG within the framework of a pilot project which the Swiss Armed Forces are using to gain first experiences for more cooperation projects, and which will run until 2015. 16

The Paschga training area just outside Walenstadt is also part of the CTC EAST. It encompasses an infantry combat training facility with modern firing ranges and the jewel of Swiss Army’s live training, the SIM KIUG Aeuli. The SIM KIUG technology used in the training village of Aeuli permits a seamless transition between open terrain and an urban environment. The site is perfectly suited for training “Raumsicherung”, the Swiss term for a type of operation encompassing the full range from military action, peacekeeping operations and humanitarian aid. The 23 buildings are equipped with sensors and effectors which respond when they come under simulated fire. KIUG developers attached great importance to the realistic presentation of weapon effects – sounds and light effects troops easily understand. This led to some features being installed in the training village which are to be found nowhere else in the world. Weapon impacts are transferred inside buildings using realistic battle damage models; the battle damage is visually presented, with doors and windows responding interactively to shots and explosions, replicated by loudspeakers and disco smoke. All events, both inside and out, weapon employment, casualty status, etc. are recorded for 72 hours and are available for the AAR.

Above The RTS LFTC (RUAG Training Support Land Forces Training Centre). Image credit: Swiss Army.

Conclusions and Outlook Since October 2013, the Swiss Army has had a complete live combat training system at its disposal which fully covers training needs for the missions the “Army XXI” reform assigned to the forces in 2003. It is now paying off that the Swiss Army seriously invested in simulation-supported live combat training in good time. This applies in particular to training in urban environments, where Switzerland secured an early lead. At a time when other nations were still discussing concepts, Swiss industry had already set up a formidably equipped test bed that was used and tried out by army experts. The proven and future-proof technology ensures that any new weapon system or equipment can be easily integrated. The Swiss Army will be well served for decades to come. mst

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Sans

Sans titre-6 1

15/04/13 11:04

S&T Industry

Interesting Times During I/ITSEC 2013, MS&T Group Editor Marty Kauchak explored issues of interest to the S&T community with executives from Rockwell Collins, L-3 link Simulation and Training, and FlightSafety International. He reports.

he largest single military customer of S&T is struggling to close the “readiness/budget gap”, or at least, prevent it from growing; those in the S&T industry are partners, willing or not, in that struggle. These are, indeed, interesting times. The frank discussions reported below provide an insight into each company’s view of the market and their approaches to that market.

Rockwell Collins LeAnn Ridgeway is vice president and general manager of Simulation & Training Solutions for Rockwell Collins. Ridgeway initially reflected on remarks from the Tuesday morning I/ITSEC flag and general officer panel members, and later time spent in the exhibition hall, and declared that the Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) training environment is “finally coming to fruition.” Ridgeway pointed out these capabilities are not new, with Rockwell Collins having demonstrated LVC-based scenarios at its conference booths for four years. She then noted that LVC is getting a boost from the Pentagon’s continued, projected funding reductions through the budget out years. “DoD budgets are now the forcing function into making people look for new ways to get better training value for their money, and they are more serious about it.” The Sterling, Virginia-based executive was asked when LVC might advance to the next plateau – with Gaming as a fourth recognized domain in the military learning environment. “The major problem to be solved there is with databases – being able to blend the on-the-ground, high density database with the air database,” she responded. Ridgeway then predicted that 18

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

these databases will begin to merge and come together, to provide another valuable training tool, in about five years. “I do think that is coming. Companies are starting to look at that. I don’t know if you are going to see mergers and acquisitions to make that happen or only collaborative environments. But the joint forces are certainly going to want to see that – soon,” she emphasized. Ridgeway was asked if industry is doing a good job telling its military customer about the benefits of investing in learning technologies. “No, and that’s a great point,” she responded. Indeed, Rockwell Collins has recently hired a firm to help it generate and illustrate efficiencies and other ROIs from investing in simulators and other training technology. She continued, “I believe the acquisition community and the decision makers, to your point, only have notional pieces of information to date. Each of the military services has their thoughts on it. What is needed is for somebody to pull together more information – some of the OEM data on what it costs to fly a live platform – and then merge it with that notional data that everyone throws

Above L-3 Link announced that it successfully upgraded a fielded F-16C Block 52 ATD and achieved a readyfor-training milestone on a second F-16C Block 52 ATD for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Image credit: L-3 Link. Opposite FSI’s new Vital 1100 image generator will be another technology foundation for the KC-46 training system. Image credit: FlightSafety International.

around all the time. People know notionally about what it is. But there needs to be more hard data to give the decision makers justification to move O&M [Operations & Maintenance] funds into the training and simulation budget lines, because that is where the savings will come from.” Ridgeway also attached importance to changing the Simulation and Training (S&T) community’s business models in order to allow the industry to expand, and be increasingly agile and responsive to its military customer. For its part Rockwell Collins is altering its business models by optimizing the flow of content and innovation between its civil and military sectors. The company also believes the proven PBL (performance based logistics) business construct from its avionics business space is applicable to military S&T. “We’ve done PBLs for a very long time. Industry, including Rockwell Collins, is very willing and is comfortable to discuss how we can bring this to bear in price per flight hour, or service type environment. We would make the investment [for S&T infrastructure] and make the military pay as it goes for the training services they need,” Ridgeway said. And while she opined the US is not ready to migrate to this model, she emphasized it has been institutionalized in the UK. Looking out on Rockwell Collins’ near-term business horizon will be the completion of the acquisition of ARINC, and then harnessing that company’s capabilities back to the buyer’s core communications segments. “This will play into LVC in an interesting and unique way. We have been very good on air communications – ground-to-air – and with this new foothold in the ground communications network, this will play out well.” 2013 I/ITSEC was the venue for Rockwell Collins to showcase its ProSim ultra-contrast projector in the US for the first time. The ProSim program supports the F-35 Lightning II, with the ProSim’s predecessor used with the Griffin rear-projector simulator dome to train aircraft pilots. One of the ProSim’s upgrades allows the seamless transition to and from, black, dark night and light, very bright day – without degradation to the projector’s performance – further

increasing its value for NVG-enabled training.

L-3 Link Simulation and Training Lenny Genna is president of L-3 Link Simulation & Training. Of little surprise, the first discussion topic was the impact of the ongoing US budget issue on L-3 Link’s military business unit. The Arlington, Texas-based industry official pointed out that in 2013 Link navigated the October government shutdown, contract delays and other effects of sequestration, and other budget dynamics. “For 2013 we finished pretty well considering those things that took place,” Genna recalled, and said, “but it would have been better if it wasn’t for those budget developments.” Shifting to the other L-3 Link business units, Genna said Link’s civil business sector represented by L-3 Link UK, performed “quite well” in 2013, pointing out that unit had a number of major contract awards this year. L-3 D.P. Associates (L-3 DPA) has been part of the L-3 business family for over two years and provides training solutions for commercial and civilian customers’ organizations. L-3 DPA “has been doing very well in the driver training business,” Genna noted. Link continues to successfully expand its presence in the international market across its sectors. Indeed, Genna declared “I think we did pretty good this year internationally.” As one data point in this market, shortly before the conference convened L-3 Link announced that it successfully upgraded a fielded F-16C

Block 52 ATD (Aircrew Training Device) and achieved a ready-for-training milestone on a second F-16C Block 52 ATD for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Genna also emphasized Link’s continuing diversification away from the military market, with one third of Link’s business volume now in the civil and international sectors. While L-3 Link UK continues to focus on China and Southwest Asia, he reminded us that the unit also had a significant, recent contract award (KLM) in Europe. Back in the military market, L-3 Link sees some evolving international opportunities in the helicopter and F-16 sectors. The company also expects additional business to result from the company’s award of the US Air Force’s Predator Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) program announced this July. “With the win of PMATS, the natural extension of what the UAS provides onto other US platforms is important. And we’re also expanding our UAS portfolio in maintenance training – another area we can also now go out to international customers who were waiting for PMATS to be awarded,” he said. Looking at the reality of continued uncertainties surrounding the Pentagon budget, Genna’s top business priority for 2014 includes, “aligning ourselves and doing all of the other things to make sure that we continue to be cost conscious and try and drive costs out of our system and our industrial base as we focus on these new opportunities.” Also in 2014, Link will continue to look for investment opportunities in adjacent markets. MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

S&T Industry And while Genna said that “while there may not be anything specific in the way of acquisitions, we’ll always have our eye on opportunities to fill gaps if it makes sense.”

FlightSafety International Three FlightSafety International (FSI) company executives, Ron Ladnier, a vice president for FlightSafety Services, Jon Hester, FSI’s general manager for simulation-visual systems, and John Van Maden, FSI’s vice president for simulation, discussed topics of mutual interest MS&T. FlightSafety Services Corporation is the prime contractor to deliver the US Air Force KC-46's training system. The training system will be one of the largest near-term programs of record for the US simulation and training industry. Boeing, the KC-46 original equipment manufacturer, expects to deliver 179 tankers if all options on the current contract are exercised. The service will use the KC-46 to replace its fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. By 2017, Boeing is to build four test aircraft and deliver 18 combat-ready tankers. Ron Ladnier said his industry-led team is “off to a great start to deliver the system.” The team is currently completing a number of concurrent projects, most important of which is gathering aircraft data from Boeing. The first KC-46 operational training device is expected to be delivered in December 2015, with the second device scheduled for delivery in January 2016. FlightSafety Services is relying extensively on the learning technology capacity within the broader FSI portfolio for the new tanker program. Ladnier noted the company’s simulation unit at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has an extensive menu of cutting-edge products to draw on. “One example is enhanced motion, so that the flight controls feel a lot more realistic and the motion of the aircraft feels a lot more realistic,” he emphasized. FSI’s new Vital 1100 image generator will be another technology foundation for the KC-46 training system. Introduced in October 2013, the IG is FAA Level D and EASA Level D certified. Jon Hester, FSI’s general manager for simulation-visual systems, noted that eight Vital 1100 IGs have shipped to a rich mix

of end users. While the IG has been delivered to FSI training centers for civil helicopter training in Lafayette, Louisiana and Stavangar, Norway, the Vital 1100 was also shipped in December to support the US Marine Corps’ AH-1Z and UH-1Y training programs, among others. There is the potential to upgrade other legacy, military visual systems furnished by FSI with the new device. FSI’s Display business unit will supply its glass cockpit display for the KC-46 training system. “This is glass, not mylar,” Ladnier emphasized. He continued, “This will be ‘bright and crisp’, and we also articulate it so you get the full range of air refueling and other tasks.” The KC-46 visual system static display is expected to be 225 degrees (Horizontal) x 60 degrees (Vertical) and then articulated once the training device is on motion. Ladnier told MS&T that FSI is addressing how the end user can reduce training costs by transferring more training into the simulator. Aside from innovations in visual displays and motion systems, FSI is moving more crew members into the same simulator cabin. “In one instance we have a simulator that trains not only pilots but also two gunner positions with their own visual display, so this crew knows how to operate as a crew before it goes into combat,” he noted. Ladnier also spoke to FSI’s efforts to increase training fidelity by more fully integrating the expanding number of sensors on weapons platforms into training devices. “We can present that through separate channels and by enabling crew members to use NVGs. When you add all of this up it encourages the military customer to do more and more training in the simulator,” he said. FSI continues to expand internationally, John Van Maden, FSI’s vice president for simulation, observed. While noting recent press releases on contract awards in Brazil and Southeast Asia, he was unable to discuss other specific developments. Of further interest, one of FSI’s fastest growing sectors is its civil helicopter training business. “Some of the technologies FSI’s engineers are improving – blade element models, visuals, secondary motion and others are why we are seeing growth in FlightSafety’s helicopter business,” Ladnier concluded. mst

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Show Preview

ITEC 2014 ITEC is back in the heart of Europe. Walter F. Ullrich previews the event.

fter the rather mixed results at its 2013 event in Rome, ITEC organisers are taking no risks with this year’s venue. From 20–22 May 2014, ITEC will be held in Cologne, Germany for the third time. Good memories are still attached to the two events previously held there, and there is much to indicate that ITEC 2014 could be another record-breaking event: Cologne is located at the heart of Europe’s largest business region and within one hour’s flying time of 180 million Europeans. The venue will again be Koelnmesse, the fifth largest exhibition centre in the world that is located on the banks of the Rhine and within walking distance of the city centre. ITEC sees itself as a forum where representatives from the military, industry and academia can connect and share knowledge with the international training, education and simulation sectors. Attendees will get a unique overview of the industry’s latest innovations and find an exclusive platform on which to discuss developments in this evolving market and to exchange ideas about future requirements for military training and simulation. The 2014 Conference Committee Chair, DeLloyd Voorhees, Vice President Business Development at General

Dynamics Information Technology, and his committee form an experienced team that guarantees that all the goals it has set itself will be achieved. “There has never been a greater need for a frank and constructive debate between all concerned and I am looking forward to ITEC 2014, when vitally important topical issues will be high on the agenda,” said committee member Professor Stefan Wolfgang Pickl, Chair for Operations Research Department of Computer Science at the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich. In a time, he went on, when economic factors were causing nations around the world to downsize their armed forces in terms of manpower and equipment, all responsible countries will be seeking ways to maintain necessary levels of capability, including in the allimportant area of training. “Part of the solution lies in synthetic training systems and technologies, but it is also time to assess the whole spectrum of training methodology. This includes the potential for the further development of live training – a challenge not only for industry but also those involved in procurement and operations,” he concluded. It can rightly be assumed that ITEC 2014 will take up these challenges. The success of ITEC also relies on support from the Host Nation. ITEC 2014

has pledged assistance from the German Armed Forces, the University of German Armed Forces in Munich and the German Association for Defence Technology (DWT). This year’s opening address and keynote will be given by Vice Admiral Heinrich Lange, Vice Chief of the German Navy. Keynotes on other days will be given by Brigadier General Gerd Bischof, Director of Planning and Policy NATO Defence College, Lt Col Malcolm Conway, Staff Officer Grade One Education, ETD Branch, HQ FORCOMD, Australian Defence College, Dr Ian Curran, Clinical Advisor NHS Health Education England, and Mr John Bassett OBE, Associate Fellow, Cyber Security RUSI. The list of speakers includes highlevel experts such as Ms Lynn S.S Ng, Head of Training, Air Force Medical Services, Singapore Air Force, and Dr Henrik Staunstrup, Surgeon Commander, Army Operational Command, Denmark. The ITEC 2014 conference is set to build upon last year’s successful model: sessions will be structured into seven distinct themes covering all major areas of the military training and simulation field: - Cyber, as a threat to current and future training technologies; preparation and training of all aspects of cyber protection - Civil Support, Protection & Disaster Event Management - Military Operations - Shifting from Insurgency Operations to Operational Manoeuvre - Innovative Learning Technologies Use & Implementation - Human Performance and Education - Medical Training and Simulation Challenges - M&S Technologies & Architectures As in previous years, conference attendance is free for serving military personnel. However, places are limited, which is why early registration is essential. As regards trade fair participants, by the end of February ITEC already had a large number of confirmed exhibiting companies, including both newcomers and returners. Most overseas players plan to come, and it should be a home game anyway for numerous German and European companies. There is every indication that ITEC 2014, the 25th of its kind, will be a great fest! mst MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Game Review

Drive on Moscow In this feature, MS&Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michael Peck reviews games, with a focus on those that approach an intersection with military training.

ablets and defense simulations have had a troubled history. In theory, they should be a perfect match. Tablets offer convenience and portability, and the chance to play a training simulation on an airliner or the living room sofa. That's why militaries around the world are turning to mobile devices. Yet for all the power and brilliance of an iPad, there is only so much that a designer can do with a magazine-sized computer in terms of computational power, graphics and user interface. Thus it is less than surprising that most entertainment games â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even those purporting to be wargames â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on the Apple and Google app stores are barely a step up from the sophistication of Angry Birds. The most striking aspect of Drive on Moscow [www.shenandoah-studio.com/ dom], from Shenandoah Studios, is that it is a sophisticated game that works on iPads and iPhones. It's an honest-togoodness historical wargame, with all the fidelity and attention to detail that this implies, and it plays smoothly on mobile devices. Drive on Moscow focuses on the climatic German assault to seize the Soviet

M S & T MA G A Z I N E 1 . 2 0 1 4

capital in late 1941. More than two million men and 4,000 tanks were locked in desperate battle that saw the Germans advance almost to the gates of Moscow, only to be thrown back by the bitter Russian winter and a Soviet counteroffensive led by elite Siberian reinforcements. How could a tablet or smartphone capture such an epic battle? The answer is by playing to the strengths of mobile devices, and more important, avoiding their weaknesses. Traditional hobby wargames tend to use maps divided into small hexagons, which is fine for a board game spread on a dining room table, or a desktop PC with a large screen. But the constricted touchscreen of a mobile device is a trap for fumbling fingers trying to tap a tiny spot on the map. Drive on Moscow divides the map of the Moscow region into "spaces", or large areas like the countries in Risk, in which each side can have up to three formations each (infantry corps plus panzer and motorized infantry divisions for the Germans, and infantry armies and tank corps for the Soviets). Mobiles lack mice and thus right-click menus, nor is there room for rows of buttons to click on. So there are severe limi-

tations on the ability of the user interface to offer the player a wide choice of commands. Drive on Moscow wisely avoids this issue by keeping player input very simple. A player taps one space at a time, which activates all of units in a space. Tap another space, and some or all those units move to that destination. Combat is simple, with opposing units in the same space fighting. Each unit has a certain number of strength points that reflect its ability to inflict damage and absorb it. The deeper aspect of combat are the numerous modifiers that affect attack and defense, such as elite panzer and Siberian formations, tanks attacking infantry, lack of supply, and the effects of woods, cities and fortifications. But players have no control over these modifiers, other than trying hard to put the right kind of troops in the right battle at the right time. These are solid features, but perhaps not brilliant. The brilliant part is how Shenandoah incorporates the key and unique aspects of the Battle of Moscow with a minimum of fuss. For example, the vital aspect of time is elegantly simulated. Each turn represents three to five days of real time. When a player activates a space, a random number of hours are

consumed. When the time reaches three to five days, the turn ends and a new one begins, regardless of whether a player has had a chance to move all his units. Thus players rarely have the luxury of enough time to move all their troops. Both sides also receive a certain number of Prepared Offensives, which reflect the tactical surprise and logistical preparations that make the initial phases of a well-planned offensive so devastating. The game mechanism is simple, essentially one to three free attacks per turn for up to three turns. Then the bonus stops, simulating how an offensive runs out of steam. Then, there are the weather and supply features. The powerful German forces were hobbled by supply shortages, which the game simulates by randomly immobilizing a few panzer and motorized divisions to reflect lack of fuel. Rainy weather paralyzes movement during mud turns. When mud hardens to frost, the German offensive revives, only to be brought to a halt by blizzards at the end of the game. It would be too generous to say that Drive on Moscow is a deep simulation.

MS&T_1_Feb_2014_HP.indd 1

There are too many omissions and simplifications in command and control, logistics and airpower. The AI is lackluster at best (the game is much more interesting as an online human vs. human contest over Apple's Game Center). But it is accurate to say that Drive on Moscow is a remarkably deep and polished product for a tablet and smartphone game. What it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up in convenience. Which is why the military should pay attention to this game. Not because the staff colleges need a simulation of the Moscow campaign. But rather because Drive on Moscow shows that it is possible to play a decent simulation on a mobile device. A highly detailed staff training simulation might be too much, but there are numerous opportunities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from COIN exercises to virtual staff rides of historical battlefields â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where a game based on Drive on Moscow would shine. Let's hope that shrewd minds take advantage of this. mst

Above Engaging in head-to-head combat. All images: Shenandoah Studios.

M S & T MA G A Z I24. N E2.12014 . 2 0 1 13:22:06 4 23

Image credit: NTSA.

Show Report

2013 I/ITSEC Managing Editor Jeff Loube, with files from Marty Kauchak and Chuck Weirauch reports on the event held in Orlando 2-5 December 2013.

/ITSEC is over for 2013 and long time attendees will have noted some changes. The show floor was a bit more subdued – there were more joint booths, booths were more moderate, and the aisles less crowded. MS&T noted a surprise lack of "new" product announcements – with the exception of the always competitive projector sector. Some familiar exhibitors were noted by the absence of a floor presence, choosing to pursue B to B in the margins. Total registrations were about 14000, some 70% of 2011’s high of 20,000. In all, organizers reported there were 526 companies represented in 395 exhibits. Overall delegate attendance, however, remained relatively steady thanks to the strong international presence. I/ ITSEC 2013 welcomed some 2000 international delegates from 69 countries, about 57% of delegates. Organizers believe that the higher international participation reflects the growing interest in M & S worldwide and the recognition that I/ITSEC is a key event in the world of training systems. The General/Flag Officer Panel was marked by the frankness and openness of the Service and Departmental representatives. The money theme and its variants overshadowed all the comments. VADM David Dunaway summed the challenges 24

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

faced by not only the US military, but also some other western militaries, by calling up the growing “readiness demand/ budget gap” and noting that maintaining proficiency is the greatest challenge. Others pointed out that the nature of the gap is changing. MGen James Jones said that after a couple of decades operating in a permissive environment, there is now a requirement to train for operations in a “non-permissive” environment and “we don’t have the capability to train for that”. He went on to say that the solution will be heavy on LVC, but the reality is that there is a need to change the way business is done. “There is no hope for a return to the status quo.” And following that theme, LtGen John Johnson stated that now is the time to think about how we train, and how we maintain skills, calling up the spectre of post WWII loss of combat expertise and equipment and the effect on US readiness for the Korean conflict. “Where will we be in 5 years?” he asked rhetorically. And finally, as to the future, Frank DiGiovanni, Director, Training, Readiness and Strategy ODASD (Readiness) suggested that M&S could provide a hedge in a time of contraction by maintaining agile and adaptive forces. And in a reflection of budget realities, M&S Caucus Co-Chairman Forbes was among the members who called on

industry representatives to educate their congressional delegations about M&S in terms of: here's the need for it and here's how M&S benefits the nation. "Don't tell them how M&S works," he concluded. In other words, speak to the ROI. The Training Technology Special Event played to a full house, a house seeking the vision of the future. Speakers spoke to the need for true systems thinking; “The air wing is the combat system”. And asked the question how to optimize the mix of technologies for training systems? And the training technologies would have desirable features like being distributed, interoperable, reconfigurable, and being able to be integrated into real time training, and of course, be cost effective; all the while with technology objectives framed by a training outcome of forces that can out think, out maneuver, and out perform near peer opponents. The newest arrow in the DoD training quiver is Transmedia. Dr. Elaine Raybourn defined it as a scalable system that provides a sustained core experience through multiple media that involves learners personally in the story and results in measurable behavioural change. Transmedia uses all media, not just digital media to provide that experience and clearly requires a systems view of the military training and education pro-

cess. It is not about a technology and thus this DoD ADL-led initiative has the potential to be a game changer for all those in the military training business. It is considered to be transformative.

The Show Floor MS&T Editors felt, as they always do, somewhat overwhelmed by the time/space challenge; however, there were some things that caught their eye. Industry continues to provide higher fidelity and more rigorous training and mission rehearsal products for unmanned air system (UAS) pilots and sensor operators. Brookline, Massachusetts-based MetaVR continues to enhance its low-cost aircraft data collection system to collect and process real-time 3-D terrain following a UAS mission. A booth demo highlighted the process that permits the operator of a Raven-sized UAS to collect imagery and send it to be processed – resulting in a terrain end product with 3 cm (1.2 in.) resolution. The particular scenario is adequate for the command post intelligence officer to note soldiers in small ravines and other data to support tactical maneuvering on the battlefield. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) continues to deliver UAS instruction to the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps for the Shadow, Hunter and other US DoD UASs and upgrading its UAS delivered courses and training to replicate current tactics and procedures. In one instance, UAS operators are able to learn and rehearse their skills during missions when their platform is teamed with a manned helicopter, much as they do in current operations in Afghanistan. In the land training domain, Raydon is fielding its fourth generation Virtual Combat Operations Trainer (VCOT) product for its US Army National Guard customer. Greg Recker, the company’s vice president for business development, noted that as part of the VCOT hardware and software life cycle upgrades, there are 18 titles in the curriculum. “That is not a small number,” Recker pointed out, adding that normally there is one curriculum title for one piece of hardware. “We have 18 titles allowing the training audience to train to different types of events. You can train an individual or one crew with gunnery exercises. Or you can populate it all and train for convoy operations.” Also in the land training sector, MS&T has watched Meggitt Training Systems’ small arms simulation technology rapidly evolve through the last several years. At the 2013 I/ITSEC, delegates saw the inclusion of the 3-D Marksmanship Training environment, demonstrated with CryENGINE graphics and Meggitt’s tether less BlueFire® weapons simulators, with several other new enhancements including “convertible” fully sensored BlueFire® simulator (M4); through-sight Devices - FIST Thermal Sight (FTS) and Commanders Target Locater (CTL); and enhanced user interface for simple navigation and user feedback. Meggitt continues to deliver its virtual marksmanship products around the world. The company went to this I/ITSEC after having completed sales in the second half of 2013 to military forces in Italy and the UK. COTS – commercial off the shelf – is alive and well. CM Labs were highlighting a prototype integrated LAV driver trainer composed entirely of commercial software and hardware products. The impetus for the prototype was the recent DST –led experi-

ment in the UK that demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation based driver training and that COTS software and hardware was in all likelihood the most suitable option for cost effective training. CM Labs (Vortex) partnered with Presagis (Stage and Vega Prime), DI-Guy, VRX, and D-Box. The presence of BISim and VBS was stronger than ever. Joined by 8 partners in their community booth, well-attended live demonstrations of VBS were run throughout the show. BISim also hosted their best-ever attended VBS3 User Group, and in fact had to run two additional targeted ones for military and industry customers. MS&T continues to monitor technology applications in adjacent sectors that may be of interest to the military end user. One program that falls into this category is Aerosim’s B737NG Maintenance Training Suite, an equivalent civil platform to both the P-8 and C-40 military aircraft derivatives. The company’s B737NG Maintenance Training Suite is in service with China Eastern Airlines, Samara State Aerospace University in Russia and others around the globe. Erik Tobler, the company’s product marketing manager, pointed out the training suite is “high fidelity” and permits the learner to “do everything from completing training systems theory to operating procedure, and up to a troubleshooting event – a malfunction, fault or other problem with the system.” And finally, a sign of the times is the rise of national pavilions such as the Netherlands Simulation Pavilion, the Brazilian Defense and Security Industry Association and the Canadian Atlantic Alliance of Aerospace and Defense Associations (AAADA). Organizers were pleased with the trend towards special country pavilions, and advised MS&T that a strong delegation from Australia has already committed to supporting a pavilion in 2014

Service Exhibits Sightings of US military personnel were few and far between, even though higher-ranking officers and decision-makers were well represented during show events and at service exhibits.

Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Jenn MacNamara of Breakaway and this years SGSC chair called this year’s competition “the best year yet!” Eighty evaluators examined some 50 submissions and finally showcased 17 Finalists. The 2013 SGS&C winners are: • Students’ Choice - Algeburst by Muzzy Lane Software • Best Business Developed Serious Game - MACBETH by University of Oklahoma • Best Government Developed Serious Game - Decisive Combat by Singapore Armed Forces Center for Leadership Development • Best Student Developed Serious Game - A Slower Speed of Light by MIT Game Lab • Best Mobile Serious Game - GORDEE by US Army PdM-Ground Maneuver • Special Interest Category - Adaptive Force Training - MACBETH by University of Oklahoma; and • People’s Choice - GORDEE by US Army PdM-Ground Maneuver MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Show Report And even with fewer US armed services personnel on the show floor, several industry exhibitors told MS&T that they were able to make significant business contacts. However, there were fewer military exhibits than in the past several years, and they were more modest. Of those at the show, the US Air National Guard had the most impressive, with a full 360-degree dome Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Training System on display. Several military commands and supporting companies conducted networked joint JTAC exercises throughout the show via the trainer. A significant direction for the US Air Force is the Readiness Through LVC (LTC) initiative. The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) provided the "home base" for this concept at its exhibit area throughout the show. Elements of the RTL program showcased included the Air, Space, and Cyberspace Constructive Environment (ASCCE) and the Air Force Continuously Available Operational Training Environment (AFCOTE). AFAMS representatives were also fielding queries related to the service's Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC). Next to the Air Force, the US Navy provided show attendees with the broadest scope of its directions for simulationbased training. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training System (NAWCTSD)

exhibit featured such examples as the NROTC Mariner Skills Trainer, the Next Generation Threat System and Helicopter Control Officer Tower Trainer. Intelligent tutoring technology was also a theme at the NAWCTSD exhibit, since the Navy is placing a major focus on this technology for instruction at its brickand-mortar schools. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) featured its Fleet Integrated Synthetic Test And Training Facility and Command and Control Simulator for Small Craft Threats, along with an Aircrew Tactical Team Trainer and the Bravo Aircrew Tactical Team Trainer. While government restrictions on participation in I/ITSEC 2013 were evident for other US training commands and organizations, in no place were they the more obvious than for the Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and the service's Research Development and Engineering Commands (RDECOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The Army agencies did not feature any training devices, but rather depended on industry partners to demonstrate the products they provide to the Army. For example, Lockheed Martin showcased the Urban Operations Training System, while Engineering and Computer Simulations provided overviews of medical simulation tools that the company developed in conjunction with the ARL.

13th Annual

www.militaryﬂighttraining.com

Raydon operated its truck trailer-based mobile Virtual Convoy Operations Trainer and Stryker Platoon Blended Training Package that it provides for the Army National Guard. The NATO Modelling and Simulation Task Group provided information on a number of its initiatives, including its efforts to exploit M&S technologies to strengthen the organization's Cyber Defense policies and training. Also at the exhibit was a demonstration of the capabilities of the NATO Electronic Individual Training and Education Programme (e-ITEP). According to NDIA spokesman, John Williams, “The quality of I/ITSEC 2013 was quite possibly the highest in its history, ... The B to B and B to G interaction on the floor was as smooth and productive as it could possibly be, … and the technical papers presented maintained the high quality for which I/ITSEC is known”. Organizers consider that under the circumstances I/ITSEC 2013 was a tremendous success. Williams stated “Our government and industry partners demonstrated an incredible level of support given the extraordinary pressure placed on them by a weak economy and an uncertain budget environment.” He expressed optimism that, with the passage of the 2014 budget and a two-year spending plan, attendance will return to historic levels in 2014. mst

25-27 March 2014, Hotel Russell, London, UK

ALL SERVING OFFICERS 1* AND ABOVE ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE

The Military Flight Training community’s annual general meeting for the discussion of military fixed wing and rotary flight training requirements, capabilities and technologies. Save 20% on attending with discount code: MFT_MST Register online at www.militaryflighttraining.com, by calling +44 (0) 207 368 9737, by emailing enquire@defenceiq.com 2 6 MFT-2014-strip-ad.indd M S & T M A G A Z I1N E 1 . 2 0 1 4

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I/ITSEC

InTErSErvICE/InduSTry TraInIng, SImulaTIon & EduCaTIon ConfErEnCE TRAINED AND MISSIoN READY: DETER • DEFEND • DEFEAT

EC? S T I / I y h W ttendees

14,000 A exhibitors u 526 sessions u 150 00 s, over 1,9 ie r t n u o c s u 70 l delegate a n io t a n r inte

Albania • Algeria • Argentina • Australia • Austria • Bangladesh • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria Canada • Chad • Chile • China • Colombia • Costa Rica • Czech Republic • Canada • Denmark Ecuador • Egypt • El Salvador • Estonia • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Ghana • Great Britain • Greece • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Ireland • Israel • Italy • Jamaica • Japan • Jordan Kuwait • Lebanon • Libya • Lithuania • Malaysia • Mexico • Morocco • Netherlands • New Zealand Nigeria • Norway • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Peru • Philippines • Poland • Romania • Russia Saudi Arabia • Singapore • Slovakia • South Africa • South Korea • Spain • Sri Lanka • Sweden Switzerland • Taiwan • Thailand • Turkey • Ukraine • United Arab Emirates • United Kingdom • Uruguay • Yemen w w w. i i T s e c. o r g u d e c e m b e r 1 - 4 , 2 0 1 4 u o r l a n d o, F l o r i d a

World News & Analysis

Seen&Heard A compendium of current news from the military simulation and training industry, compiled and edited by news editor Fiona Greenyer and the MS&T editorial team. For the latest breaking news and in-depth reports go to www.halldale.com.

TRAINING DEVICE

TRAINING CENTRE

Helicopter Trainer Upgrade

Israel Air Force Inaugurates New Fighter Jet Mission Training Centre

AVT Simulation has been awarded a $10.17 million delivery order (DO2) under its $45.8 million five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to upgrade the US Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (PEO STRI) Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Reconnaissance/Attack (RA) helicopter trainers. AVT will develop and implement Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training as a new capability for the AVCATT Training System. It will include Manned/ Unmanned-Training (MUM-T) for the AH-64D Block II Lot 13.1 simulation and Level 2 Manned-Unmanned (L2MUM) training capability for the OH-58D simulation. AVT will also develop and implement AVCATT AH-64E simulation that will include Level 4 MUM-T integration to upgrade the AVCATT training system with the latest AH-64E simulation. TRAINING DEVICES

MILO Range Simulators Arotech Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Training and Simulation Division has won a $2.9 million contract to supply MILO Range simulators for use by the Saudi Arabian Defense Forces. The contract includes seven custom designed virtual weapons training simulators to be installed at regional readiness centers across the Kingdom. Each of the seven systems is a multiscreen, 24-lane MILO based application providing a virtual firing range for pistol and rifle marksmanship training. The first deliveries under this contract will begin in the first quarter of 2014 and continue in phases through the third quarter until all systems are installed and on-site training is complete. 28

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

The Israel Air Force (IAF) has inaugurated the new fighter jet Mission Training Centre (MTC) at the IAF Hatzor Base.

The MTC, which is considered the most advanced training centre in the world, marks a significant breakthrough in the operational training sector. The system enables training in various mission scenarios in varying war zones and in the relevant threat environment of each war zone. The centre has been established by Elbit Systems and is operated through a PFI (Private Financing Initiative) concept.

COMPANY NEWS

Quantum3D Teams with Bohemia Interactive Quantum3D, Inc. has entered a partnership with Bohemia Interactive Simulations. The partnership lets Quantum3D become a bundled reseller of Virtual Battlespace 2 (VBS2) and Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3), the industry standard gamebased simulation and training platforms. This agreement, together with the combination of the ExpeditionDI platform and VBS software, will help Quantum3D sell a complete, deployable immersive simulation solution to customers worldwide.

Quantum3D will also add support for VBS2 and VBS3, adding exciting new capabilities and increased realism to the ExpeditionDI experience. VBS3 provides an advanced API, giving Quantum3D control over VBS3 features including skeletal animation, terrain, weather and scenario elements such as friendly and opposing forces. The improved content generation capability of VBS3 and higher graphical fidelity will deliver a new level of immersion to ExpeditionDI users.

TRAINING SERVICES

Bagira Systems Improving Training Effectiveness Cost savings and improved training effectiveness have been achieved by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with the introduction of the newly developed MAGNET magazines into laser-based MILES training. The MAGNET magazine, developed by Bagira Systems Ltd. eliminates the use of blank bullets by MILES trainees, who use the MAGNET magazine of virtual "bullets" instead. Shooting a virtual "bullet" activates the

MILES laser system and generates the required firing effect (sound and flash). The use of Bagira Systems' MAGNET magazines, reduces the direct and indirect costs of laser engagement training systems, paving the way for higher effective training at lower costs. MAGNET magazines (Patent Pending) have MIL STD 810G certification and are being used by the IDF for all its MILES systems.

ARMY

Thales' Commander Training System Enters Service Thales has announced the entry into service of a new-generation Commander Training System for the French Army. The OPOSIA system was ordered by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA - French defence procurement agency) in order to enable training for combinedarms task forces. Deployed at the French Army's CENTAC combat training centre in Mailly-leCamp (France), it will be used to instruct and train commanders of company-level combined-arms task forces, as well as section and platoon leaders. It can be coupled with the "live" training on the CENTAURE system, also provided by Thales thanks to a contract with DGA. The new Commander Training System can be used to simultaneously train three digitised task force commanders, their subordinates (section and platoon leaders) and leaders of support units (engineering, artillery, logistics). This makes it possible to train up to 45 people taking part in one or more exercises in a virtual theatre of operations.

Based on tactical simulation software developed by Thales, the new system immerses personnel in a highly realistic 3D universe (terrain features, weather conditions, weapon systems, allied and opposing force deployment doctrines). For added realism, personnel use their own operational communication and information systems for the exercises. Artificial intelligence techniques specifically developed for tactical applications minimise the number of instructors needed.

CREW TRAINING

L-3 Link to Provide E-8C JSTARS Training L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has been awarded a contract from Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide flight and mission crew training services in support of the US Air Force's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Total System Support Responsibility program. In addition to this initial one-year award, L-3 Link could receive five additional contract options through 2019 to provide E-8C JSTARS training at Robin Air Force Base, Ga.

L-3 Link will provide instruction to more than 400 E-8C JSTARS students annually, with a curriculum that supports qualification, upgrade and continuation training. More than 80 percent of these students receive academic classroom and simulation instruction on 11 E-8C JSTARS mission crew positions. The remaining 20 percent of E-8C JSTARS students represent the platform's flight crew personnel, including pilot, co-pilot, navigator/combat systems officer (CSO) and flight engineer positions.

VISUAL SYSTEMS

Christie Awarded Contract to Deliver Simulation Projection Systems Aero Simulation Inc. (ASI) has awarded Christie the contract to supply the US Marine Corps with projection systems consisting of 12 Christie Matrix StIM™ WQ 1-chip DLP® solid state LED projectors for AW-1W Weapons Systems Trainer (WST) device 2F136A upgrades. Six display system projectors will be installed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, and six at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), New River, North Caroline in 2015. The US Marine Corps' project includes the modification and technical refresh of two existing AH-1W WST systems with t§he replacement of visual display projectors, image generators and visual databases.

CONFERENCE

Modelling & Simulation Workshop for Autonomous Systems The NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence in Rome is organising MESAS'14, to be held in the Italian capital on 5-6 May 2014. This two-day workshop will explore the role modelling & simulation (M&S) can play when it comes to integrating autonomous capabilities into operational systems. Unmanned systems are increasingly being used in almost all types of operations. The next challenging step is the evolution from remotely controlled systems to systems with autonomous capabilities. During the workshop, robotics and M&S experts from the military, academia and industry will discover how M&S can leverage the development and smoothly help to integrate cooperative autonomous systems into operations. MESAS'14 is supported by ITEC 2014 and sponsored by the AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association), the Robotics and Automation Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Italian Association for Modelling and Simulation (MIMOS) and Simulation Team, a worldwide network of excellence in M&S. For details visit www.mesas2014.org

TRAINING DEVICES

DI-Guy Now Part of VT MÄK DI-Guy is now part of VT MÄK’s suite of Modeling & Simulation software products. MÄK plans to maintain, support and enhance the DI-Guy product line while retaining the DI-Guy brand name. This change allows Boston Dynamics to focus on its growing robotics business, while MÄK continues to expand its COTS software product offering. DI-Guy staff are transitioning to the MÄK team and MÄK is committed to supporting DI-Guy users regardless of what other products they use. In particular, it plans to continue support for DI-Guy integrations into both MÄK and non-MÄK image generators (IGs). MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

World News & Analysis

AIR FORCE

SHORT FINALS TRAINING DEVICES

C-17 Training System L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has opened and is supporting a new C-17 Training System (TS) site at Stewart Air National Guard Base (Stewart ANGB) in Newburgh, New York. L-3 Link will support the training of 105th Airlift Wing C-17 pilots, loadmasters and maintenance engine run technicians. Annually, L-3 Link will deliver more than 360 courses and support 550 simulator training missions at Stewart ANGB. TRAINING DEVICES

Combat Training Equipment Order Cubic Defense Systems has been awarded a contract from a customer in the Asia Pacific region for significant quantities of combat training center equipment. This order, from a longterm customer in the region, includes laser-based simulation equipment, vehicle kits, weapon configurations, indirect fire assets and support equipment. The contract incorporates a number of accessories, communication system components, after action review capabilities and exercise control upgrades. COMPANY NEWS

T-X Family of Systems Training Competition Boeing and Saab AB have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to jointly develop and build a new advanced, cost-efficient T-X Family of Systems training solution for the upcoming competition to replace the US Air Force's aging T-38 aircrew training system. The JDA, with Boeing as the prime contractor and Saab AB as primary partner, covers design, development, production, support, sales and marketing. SOFTWARE

Diamond Visionics Delivers Genesis RTX to Korean Army Diamond Visionics’ GenesisRTX was selected for a helicopter training program in Korea and multiple systems will be deployed by the company's Korean partner, NAVIWORKS. GenesisRTX can run on any commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware to render scenes “on-the-fWly” from GIS Source Data, allowing users to rapidly create and modify the terrain environment without relying on pre-generated databases. VISUAL SYSTEMS

Simulation Display Contract VDC Display Systems, Inc. was selected as the supplier of the Video Display Units (VDU) for the U.S. Army Common Driver Training (CDT) by Raydon Corporation. VDC Display Systems will provide RAYDON with a rugged High Resolution Visual Display System (HRVDS) that meets and exceeds the requirements for CDT systems for Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Variants, MRAP mobile and fixed systems, and Tank Engineering vehicle variants for the U.S. Army's PEO STRI. 30

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

Munitions Storage Virtual Trainer SDS International recently completed delivery of the first-ever, state-of-the-art Munitions Storage Virtual Trainer (MSVT) to support the Conventional Munitions Maintenance Officer Course (CMOC) and the Nuclear Maintenance Officer Course (NMOC) taught at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. The delivered MSVT decision-skills training system has the flexibility and adaptability needed to support both the CMOC and NMOC in a capstone capacity to practice the students' newly acquired skills while also providing the ability to exercise required decisions in a virtual training environment based upon the most current application used by Air Force Munitions Control personnel during normal operations. MSVT allows the instructor to effectively develop, control, monitor and update scenarios, including the ability to greatly enhance training realism by creating additional MSA/WSA sites using a dynamic MSA/WSA creation tool developed by SDS. TRAINING DEVICES

Laser-Based Training Systems Saab has been awarded the first option year of a multi-year contract for the next generation of laser-based training systems for the US Army’s armored combat vehicles. The order value is $11.8 million. The contract consists of this order and options that can be exercised over five years with a potential total order value of $90 million. This first year option is being exercised based on the successful completion of the development, testing and delivery of the Limited Rate Initial Production (LRIP) systems to the Army. The Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (CVTESS) is a soldier-friendly, wireless live training system that the company says is easily installed and maintained. CVTESS will provide an accurate laser-based replication of the combat vehicles’ weapons that will initially be used on all variants of the M-1 Abram’s Tank and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. TRAINING SERVICES

Ground Simulator Contract Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded an Israeli Ministry of Defense contract, for the approximately $23 million, for the operation and maintenance of its ground simulators in use by the Israeli Ground Forces. The contract will be performed over a five-year period. The contract includes a variety of simulators, both fixed and mobile, dedicated to training for tanks, armored combat vehicles, driving simulators, intelligence training and other applications. VISUAL SYSTEMS

Barco Unveils World's Most Compact WQXGA Projector Barco has unveiled a new F50 projector which brings increased brightness, higher resolution (WQXGA - 2560 x 1600) and high frame rates (120 Hz) to a wide range of use cases. Its WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution ensures the clear display of the most highly detailed images, while the high frame rates (120 Hz @ 2560x1600 resolution) are ideal for displaying fast simulator content.

MAINTENANCE

Reiser Systemtechnik Hands Over NH90 Maintenance Training Rig

On 10 December 2013 the German aeronautic provider Reiser Systemtechnik (RST) handed over the first NH90 maintenance training rig (MTR) to its customer at the Fassberg Air Base in northern Germany. Some 40 invited guests, mostly from NH90 partner nations

were given the opportunity to examine the new training equipment on the premises of the Luftwaffe Technical School 3, which only a week later was absorbed by the newly established Technical Training Centre of the Luftwaffe. The MTR is a non-flying replica of the original helicopter, comprising the airframe and line replaceable units, i.e. mechanical components that are designed to be removed or replaced by maintenance personnel on-site. The customer anticipates that up to 70% of training will be conducted on the MTR, thus unblocking real aircraft for missions and relieving them from repeated stressful training interventions. The existing contract provides for a total of five MTRs, with two more rigs for Germany and two for France. Obviously, RST will be hoping for more contracts from other NH90 partner nations once the MTR has proven its usefulness in service.

SOFTWARE

Next-Gen Training Applications QinetiQ North America (QNA) has announced the availability of two new training products, a mobile learning application and a desktop training program for its Integrated Warrior Systemâ&#x201E;˘ (IWS). IWS integrates a wide variety of

warfighter electronics to enhance situational awareness and extend mission endurance. These new training applications provide cost-effective, consistent, onsite training with the delivery of IWS kits. Both the IWS desktop training

program and mobile application contain interactive lessons that provide an overview of the system, an inventory and description of components, configuration instructions and troubleshooting procedures.

TRAINING DEVICES

CAE Wins C$110 Million Contracts CAE has won contracts valued at more than C$110 million, not including options, to provide a range of training systems and services for defence customers. CAE USA will provide comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi in Texas. Under terms of the contract, which was awarded as a nine-month base contract for US$3.5 million with an additional six one-year options valued at a total of more than US$30 million, CAE USA will provide T-44C aircrew training services under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated training program. CAE will be providing classroom and simulator training for more than 500 students annually to support the Navy's T-44C aircraft. CAE will be providing a suite of new T-44C training devices to ensure concurrency with the digital, glass cockpit avionics suite in the T-44C aircraft. CAE was awarded a contract by the US Navy to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish Navy under the United States foreign military sales (FMS) program. CAE USA will be the prime contractor responsible for the design and manufacture of an MH-60R MOFT that will be delivered in 2016 to Karup Air Base in Denmark. CAE is to develop, for Beechcraft Corporation, a comprehensive T-6C GBTS for the Mexican Air Force. The T-6C GBTS will include a T-6C operational flight trainer (OFT), computer-based classroom training systems, and courseware. The comprehensive T-6C GBTS will be delivered to the Zopapan Air Base near Guadalajara in 2015.

Flight Simulation Conference

KEEPING FLIGHT SIMULATORS CURRENT AND CAPABLE

LONDON / 4 - 5 JUNE 2014 The aim of this flight simulation conference is to discuss the challenges associated with keeping flight simulators current and capable from both a concurrency and technological aspect. This applies to military and civil flight simulators across fixed wing and rotary wing communities and includes full flight simulators as well as lower level devices. www.aerosociety.com/events Register before 4 April 2014 to receive a ÂŁ100 discount on your registration fee (this excludes the RAeS baseline member rate) Sponsorship opportunities are available for this Conference For further information please contact conference@aerosociety.com

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

World News & Analysis PROJECTION SYSTEM

TRAINING DEVICES

Frasca to Supply Christie Matrix StIM Projectors for Helicopter FTDs

Meggitt Awarded $18M Australian DoD Contract

Frasca International has awarded Christie® a contract to provide 12 simulation projection systems for the German Federal Police’s (BPOL) two new Eurocopter EC155 and AS332 Helicopter flight training devices (FTDs) at BPOL’s new Simulator Centre in Sankt Augustin, Germany. The Christie Matrix StIM™ WUXGA 1-chip DLP® solid state, LED-based projectors will power the new FTDs with a field of view of 200 degrees horizontal by 68 degrees vertical for training for both day and night operations in all of Germany, including airports, hospitals, and maritime features that support civil SAR and law enforcement mission training.

With its dual input architecture, the Matrix StIM uses Christie InfraScene™ to provide independent control over both visible light and the infrared spectrum for a more realistic training experience with real night vision goggles (NVGs).

Meggitt Training Systems has won an $18 million contract from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the Hardened & Networked Army (HNA) and Enhanced Land Force (ELF) Phase 3 program. Under the HNA/ELF Phase 3 contract, Meggitt will provide hardware and software upgrades to 18 existing WTSS facilities throughout Australia, adding mortar crew and collective training to existing individual marksmanship training capabilities. The contract includes development and delivery of simulators for 52-81mm mortars; 14-upgraded 0.50 cal heavy machine guns; new BlueFire® Browning pistols; and an 84mm Carl Gustav anti-tank weapon with new ammunition natures.

TRAINING AIRCRAFT

Beechcraft Signs Contracts with RNZAF Beechcraft Corporation’s Defense Company has signed two contracts to provide a comprehensive pilot training system for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The foundation for the system is 11 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II turboprop military training aircraft. It also includes spare parts, training, logistics and maintenance support. Beechcraft's Defense Company and Global Mission Support organizations partnered with Safe Air Limited and CAE as subcontractors on the two contracts. The acquisition contract includes 11 Beechcraft T-6C aircraft, two CAE opera-

tional flight training simulators, computer-based training courseware and customized RNZAF pilot training syllabi - all of which are integrated to create a comprehensive leading edge learning management system. A 30-year logistics support agreement provides turnkey support for the RNZAF flight training operations. The T-6C aircraft and simulators will be based at RNZAF Base Ohakea, where they will support primary through advanced aircrew training before they move on to operational squadrons or the flight instructor course. The T-6C

will replace the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer in the primary phase of the RNZAF Wings Course and FIC training role. It will replace the Beechcraft King Air B200 in the advanced phase of the Wings Course. The aircraft also will be flown by the RNZAF's formation aerobatic display team made up of senior instructor pilots. The first four Beechcraft T-6C aircraft will be delivered to the RNZAF in November 2014. At that point, the air force will begin validation flying in preparation for integrating the aircraft into pilot training by mid-2015. All 11 T-6C aircraft will be delivered by mid-2015.

AIR FORCE

TRAINING DEVICES

Air Combat Training Equipment Contract

French Army First NH90 MRTD Ready

Cubic Defense Systems has been awarded a contract worth $25 million from the US Air Force for its P5 Combat Training System (P5CTS) to meet international requirements, including delivery to several Middle East allies as part of F-15 and F-16 foreign military sales contracts. "This large contract combines various FMS requirements to provide the lowest possible cost to our customers in a tight budgetary environment," said Dave Schmitz, president of Cubic Defense Systems. "This contract extends the breadth of P5 sales in the Middle East and should yield long-term operations and maintenance opportunities." Cubic is the prime contractor responsible for performance in all areas of systems engineering, and for development/integration/installation of the ground instrumentation subsystem. DRS is the principal subcontractor responsible for performance in all areas related to the P5CTS airborne instrumentation subsystem.

SOGITEC INDUSTRIES has announced that NAHEMA and the French Defense Procurement Agency (Direction générale de l'armement, DGA) have declared ready for training the first NH90 Caïman Medium Range Training Device (MRTD), in its French Army variant, at the NH90 Joint Training Center (Centre de formation interarmées, CFIA) at the French Army Aviation Academy in Le Luc, south-eastern France. This milestone concludes the first phase of the on-going international program for the development and production of seven training devices for the French Army and Navy and the Finnish Army. The MRTD is based on a flight training device class 3 simulator equipped with a comprehensive library of training scenarios, including conversion-to-type and instrument flight rating. It procures in addition a full range of mission training to address customers' tactical training needs.

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

TRAINING AGREEMENT

US & Italy Sign Training Agreement The US Defense Department and Italy's defense ministry have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote joint training and education for peacekeeping operations. The agreement, signed at the Pentagon, takes effect immediately and develops joint training and education as well as policies and procedures. "I believe this is the first, formal agreement on education and training that the undersecretary of defense of personnel and readiness has ever signed with [Italy's] Carabinieri," said Frank C. DiGiovanni, director of DOD's force readiness and strategy. "This new MOU, [while] old in association, has a very productive objective to promote peace and stability to areas of the world that are under stress," added Frederick E. Vollrath, assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management. Maj. Gen. Ilio Ciceri, Italy's chief of staff of the Carabinieri General Headquarters, said the support and position of the United States has been a source of "immense pride" for his country. The agreement lasts five years, and could be extended for another five. UAS

CAE UAS Trainer for Italian Air Force CAE has been awarded a contract to provide Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force) with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) mission trainer representing the General Atomics Predator remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). The trainer will be delivered in early 2015 to Amendola Air Force Base, and will be used to provide initial and mission training for Predator pilots and sensor operators. The CAE UAS mission trainer, which can be tailored to simulate any specific UAS platform or sensor payload suite, combines an open architecture with commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and simulation software to provide a comprehensive platform-independent training system for UAS pilots, sensor operators and mission commanders. The new device will boost Italy's training capability by enabling the Italian Air Force to rely less on live flight training and allow Predator crews to increasingly practice procedures to counter potentially catastrophic emergencies. In addition, the Italian Air Force will be able to conduct networked training exercises, thus maximizing the operational experience gained in the last decade of employment of such effective and combat proven systems. HELICOPTER

Kratos Wins Helicopter Training Contract Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has won a $35 million contract to deliver four MH-60R Naval Aircrew Training Systems (NATS) and four MH-60S Aircrew Virtual Environment Trainer (AVET) devices for NAVAIR. The period of performance under this new contract award is five years, and the contract will be executed in partnership with the prime contractor, BSC Partners LLC. The NATS and AVET training devices provide a blend of virtual and physical environments. Aircrew members will be trained in crew coordination, gunnery training, sonar, hoist, search and rescue, and vertical replenishment to include external operations.

Joint Forces Simulation & Training 2014 Well-attended, the conference addressed growing S&T challenges in the quest for readiness. MS&T’s Dim Jones was there. The 5th annual SMi Joint Forces Simulation & Training conference took place in London on 4th and 5th February 2014, with a workshop on simulation for Forward Air Control the following day. The conference was well attended, with a good mix of industry, academia and the military, albeit with very much a UK, NATO and EU flavour, indicating that travel budgets remain an issue for many nations. The conference started with statements of future training needs from both alliance and national perspectives. These suggested that, regardless of any upturn in the world economy, the force reductions and budget constraints put in place as a result of the 2008 recession would remain in place for the foreseeable future. There was a general acknowledgement that the quest for savings, coupled with significant and rapid advances in simulation technology, militated for an increased use of simulation to replace costly live training; there was also, however, general dismay at: a general lack of simulation strategy; attempts, borne of the need to save money rather than improve training quality, to create artificial – and sometimes unattainable - live/synthetic training mix targets; and the fact that savings from live training rarely, if ever, converted to increased investment in simulation. For those who have been involved in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, the challenge would be to ‘maintain the edge’ while adjusting attitudes towards fighting ‘a war’ rather than ‘the war’. Neither are the experiences of live operations in a narrow counterinsurgency conflict likely to translate directly to the future wider capability requirement; indeed, a UK presenter observed that – due to force rotation policies - we had not fought a 13-year campaign in Afghanistan, we had fought a six month campaign twenty-six times. The loss of effectively ‘free’ training, subsidised by contingency funding would, however, present a significant challenge, as would maintaining job satisfaction for those remaining in the armed forces at a time when outside opportunities in a resurgent economy would be enticing. The ubiquity of modern simulation was another topic of discussion; there is hardly an aspect of training in any field for which synthetics have no application and, in the military setting, environmental, security and weapons employment considerations make simulation not just an alternative, but the only viable medium. There was general agreement on the utility of simulation for command and control training; however, the relative predictability of computergenerated forces, as compared with the unpredictability of real life, means that really effective learning is only achieved in a truly adversarial environment and, although we have the wherewithal to make this happen, there is often a reluctance to engage in it. On a similar theme, even where plans are extremely low risk, the random ‘roll of the dice’ resulting in total disaster must sometimes be played out. The above represents only a few recurring themes, and snapshots of a varied and interesting conference, which will have been useful and, at times, thought provoking for those attending. Hopefully, future events will benefit from a loosening of the pursestrings, allowing wider representation from the international defence community. MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

World News & Analysis CONFERENCE

DWT rings in 2014 with two important events As in previous years, the German Association for Defence Technology (DWT) opened the 2014 event calendar with the symposium on “Perspectives for the Defence Industry”. The event, chaired by Major General (RET.) Wolfgang Döring from DWT, was held on 11/12 February 2014 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany and was above all aimed at representatives from the German-speaking defence and armament market. Despite the positive economic figures overall, the outlook for the national defence sector is rather mixed. A statement made by an official from the German Ministry of Defence to the effect that, at present, available budgetary funds could not be discharged due to delays in forming the new coalition government caused some furrowing of brows among the 250 attendees. A panel discussion, on the other hand, brought more positive news from the European Summit in December 2013. At the summit European leaders paid special attention to defence mat-

ters and approved the joint development of drones and in-flight refuelling aircraft, satellites and cyber-defence. The one-day seminar “Combined+ Joint: Thinking - Training - Acting”, held on 13 February 2014 on the Petersberg in Bonn, and led by Brigadier General Michael Andreas Traut from the Joint Support Service, aimed to explore how best to operate in a multi-national and multi-agency environment. Key questions were how networked security will change operations and what this means for future training. It became apparent during the course of the seminar that, although training is not the only challenge in this context, strengthening autonomous learning is one of the essentials. It was broadly argued that simulation technologies are best suited to supporting training that prepares individuals for missions when civil-military interaction is required. Personal contacts, however, remain indispensable for concerted action, one speaker reminded participants.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Business Development Manager Simulation Displays, part of the Paradigm Group of companies, has announced that Nigel Best has joined the company's business development team to focus on growth activities in the United Kingdom. "Nigel brings a wealth of experience

within the training and simulation industry and based on his distinguished career in the British Army and his considerable commercial experience, Nigel will lead our initiatives in the UK," said Henry van der Helm, business development director.

Calendar Simulation & training events organised by Halldale Group 1-3 April 2014 WATS 2014 – World Aviation Training Conference & Tradeshow Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Orlando, Florida, USA www.halldale.com/wats 23-24 September 2014 APATS 2014 – Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium Centara Grand Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand www.halldale.com/apats 28-29 October 2014 EATS 2014 – European Airline Training Symposium Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany www.halldale.com/eats 34

Other simulation & training events 25-27 March 2014 Military Flight Training Hotel Russell, London, UK www.militaryflighttraining.com 25-30 March 2014 FIDAE Santiago Airport, Santiago, Chile www.fidae.cl/en/home 14-17 April 2014 DSA 2014 (Defence Services Asia) Putra World Trade Center (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.dsaexhibition.com 20-22 May 2014 ITEC 2014 Cologne, Germany itec.co.uk

MAINTENANCE

RSAF Technical Training Aviation Australia has signed an agreement to deliver a specialised training program for Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) technicians at Aviation Australia's Brisbane campus. The program is part of an ongoing partnership between Aviation Australia and RSAF to provide high quality and internationally recognised aviation training, and has been designed to provide the technicians' technical skills to meet the latest international standards. The technicians will undertake an aviation English language program prior to the commencement of their technical training, and will complete either a B1.1 Mechanical or a B2 Avionics course which is dependent upon their relevant trades and experience.

Imag

Index of Ads Aerosim www.aerosim.com 5 AgustaWestland www.agustawestland.com 13 Bohemia Interactive www.bisimulations.com 23 CAE www.cae.com OBC Eurosatory 2014 www.eurosatory.com 17 I/ITSEC www.iitsec.org 27 IQPC Military Flight Training www.militaryflighttraining.com 26 ITEC www.itec.co.uk/mst IBC MS&T Magazine www.halldale.com/mst 20 RAeS www.aerosociety.com 29 Sony Electronics www.sony.com/4kprojection IFC Thales www.thalesgroup.com 9

Advertising contacts Director of Sales & Marketing Jeremy Humphreys [t] +44 1252 532009 [e] jeremy@halldale.com Sales Representatives USA (East) & Canada: Justin Grooms [t] 407 322 5605 [e] justin@halldale.com Europe, Middle East & Africa: Chris Richman [t] +44 1252 532007 [e] chrisrichman@halldale.com Asia Pacific: David Lim [t] +65 9680 5251 [e] davidlim@halldale.com South America: Willem-Jan Derks [t] +1 954 406 4052 [e] willem@halldale.com

MS&T MAGAZINE 1.2014

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C BO ON O FE TO K B REN SA EFO CE M IL VE RE D IT UP 7T ELE AR Y TO H M GA AT â&#x201A;Ź8 AR TES TE 80 CH : ND FR EE

20 - 22 May 2014 Cologne, Germany

Image: Alenia Aermacchi Image: eurosimtec

Image: CAE

The International Forum for the Military Training, Education and Simulation Sectors From disaster management, cyber security, e-learning, mobile technologies, serious games and visual display products, ITEC presents the full spectrum of the training and simulation sectors. > Thought-Leading Conference: includes themes that capture the technological propositions and reveal key strategic and operational military imperatives > Over 140 Exhibitors: review, benchmark and engage with industry and academia showcasing solutions and ideas at the forefront of military education, training, modelling and simulation > Networking Opportunities: unique and cost effective way to meet with senior military and policyNational Training & Simulation customers, industry partners, and those at the forefront of academic research Association, USA

For more information and to register for ITEC 2014, please visit:

WWW.ITEC.CO.UK/MST

National Training & Simulation Association, USA

Lead Media Partner:

Organised by:

National Training & Simulation Association, USA

68593-18_ITEC03A_Advert_MS&T_206x277_2014_v2.indd 1

16/01/2014 12:50

partner

CAE is the prime contractor responsible for providing the United States Navy with comprehensive MH-60S and MH-60R training systems. For a decade, CAE has worked closely with the Navy as its helicopter simulation partner, and is also supporting the U.S. Navy as part of Team Seahawk on foreign military sales campaigns. As the Navy prepares to increase the level of simulation-based training for aircrews and perform a technology refresh on its helicopter training systems, trust a company with the flexibility and proven commitment to working with the Navy as a true partner. Our capacity, experienced resources, and technical approach will all add up to lowering risk and minimizing simulator downtime so the Navy can continue to prepare its helicopter aircrews for mission success.

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milsim@cae.com cae.com/mh-60 @CAE_Defence