MS&T Magazine - Issue 2/2010

www.halldale.com The International Defence Training Journal

Technology Application

Language and Culture on the Run Training Technology

Leveraging Game Technology: When are Games the Answer?

Training Technology

German Distributed Army Aviation Training Network Training Transformation

Virtualizing M&S: Field Tests to Shape the Future ISSN 1471-1052 | US $14/ÂŁ8

Issue 2/2010

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Editorial Comment

Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Chris Lehman [e] chris@halldale.com Managing Editor: Jeff Loube [e] jeff@halldale.com Contributors Walter F. Ullrich - Europe Editor Chuck Weirauch - Training Procurement Lori Ponoroff - News Editor [e] lori@halldale.com

Walter F. Ullrich

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100 Years of Flight Simulation – and Nobody Noticed!

Those of you who visited last year’s I/ITSEC in Orlando certainly remember the special exhibition wall on the rear side of the building that provided insights into 80 years of flight simulation. Starting with Ed Link’s trainer, built in 1929, a timeline described the technological progress made in simulation and training over the past eight decades. It was all nice, but the timeline should have started 20 years earlier.

Large-scale exploitation of ground-based technology for flight training purposes started with Ed Link’s brilliant invention. His achievement is undoubtedly unique – and all the more reason for MS&T to devote a separate article to him in an upcoming issue. But he was not the first. Only a few years after the Wright brothers made their first short aerial hops, a handful of ingenious men started developing sophisticated apparatuses that helped to train prospective pilots before they became airborne. Léon-Marie-Joseph-Clement Levavasseur, the aeroplane designer and inventor of the first V-8 engine, is the one who actually deserves the honour of having constructed the first flight training device worthy of that name. In 1909, at the request of some aspiring military pilots, he built the “Training Barrel”, a flight trainer for his Antoinette VII, the largest and heaviest of the monoplanes of the time. In 1910 he published a catalogue containing illustrations of his simulator.

Set on a manually actuated 3DoF motion platform, it replicated the complete and very complex steering control of the Antoinette. In the same year, the Englishman Capt. H. A. Sanders, an experimenter and aviator, launched a device that gave pupils an idea of the control of an aeroplane before they actually got in the air. The “open air” installation exposed the simulator to the varying force of the wind in almost an identical manner to a working aeroplane. His apparatus closely adhered to the design drawings of the 1909 Sanders No. 1 biplane that the pupil was learning to control. The “modular” construction, however, permitted the original parts of practically any aeroplane to be installed – making the “Sanders Teacher” the first reconfigurable flight training device.

Back in 1912 the Italians Agostino Gemelli and Amedeo Herlitska had already researched methods for screening pilots. The first equipment to test pilots’ aptitude for flying were designed at the University of Turin and built by the Italian Armed Force Aviators Battalion in 1914. The devices were based on the fuselage of a Blériot aeroplane and reproduced the pitch and roll to be identified by the blindfolded candidate.

In 1916, during the Great War, the Russian engineer and 2nd Lieutenant Juri V. Gilsher constructed a device to train the aiming and firing of wing-mounted machine guns, while simultaneously operating the steering elements of their squadron’s Nieuport 17. Gilsher’s apparatus was the first ground-based cockpit gunnery trainer for single-seater aeroplanes in aviation history. Also in 1916, the German engineer and pilot Franz Drexler produced the “Training Swing”, a device which could be considered the first German flight simulator. Its purpose was to impart the “sensation of hydraulic steering movements” to the potential pilots of large aircraft. In fact, he brought the man-in-the-loop into an otherwise automated process. Almost in passing, he equipped his device with the first ever electric motion platform. In the same year, a young German 1st lieutenant named Carl Fink took the fuselage and engine of a wingless two-seater reconnaissance aircraft and hung it into a pivot-mounted ring measuring almost 3 m in diameter. The special feature here was that the fuselage could not only be moved in pitch and yaw, but also accomplished 360° roll movements about its longitudinal axis. His open cockpit crew trainer allowed better interaction between the pilot and the officer on the back seat, thereby physically preparing the crew for motions they would encounter in the sky.

The two decades before Link are not the black hole in simulation it might seem – it is just our lack of awareness about this era. In those early years creative and resourceful men designed and built simulation equipment that fulfilled purposes that are still quite familiar to us. These European pioneers have undeservedly fallen into oblivion. Almost exactly one century later, it is time to recognise them for what they were: the founding fathers of today’s modern high-tech simulation.

Walter Ullrich MS&T Europe Editor • walterullrich@halldale.com MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

05

Technology applicaTion

Language and Culture on the Run Training Technology

Leveraging Game Technology: When are Games the Answer?

Training Technology

German Distributed Army Aviation Training Network Training TransformaTion

Virtualizing M&S: Field Tests to Shape the Future ISSN 1471-1052 | uS $14/£8

Issue 2/2010

cover credit U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lindsay L. Sayres

front cover

www.halldale.com The InTernaTIonal Defence TraInIng Journal

contents ms&T 2/2010

05 Editorial Comment

08 Interview

8

Interview

ACT’s JET and Language and Cultural Training. NATO ACT has an ongoing challenge with language and cultural issues. Chuck Weirauch interviews Brigadier General Kurt Pedersen, Assistant Chief of Staff, ACT Joint Education and Training (JET) division.

12 Technology Application Language and Culture. Game based technologies are being leveraged to provide broad access to language and cultural training. Chuck Weirauch describes an example.

12

Technology Application

16 Technology Application Embedded Training. Supported by policy, embedded training promises any time, anywhere solutions. Jeff Loube writes.

22 Training Technology The GRIL Lab. AFRL Mesa’s Gaming Research for Integrated Learning Lab supports research into game based training. 1Lt Adam Pohl and 2Lt Joel Walker explain.

27 Training Transformation

16

Technology Application

Virtual Labs. Virtualizing the development of JNTC virtual environments in a virtual lab. Will Crain and Ted Miller explain.

32 Training Technology German Distributed Army Aviation Training Network. Enabling ‘train as you fight’ through networks. Captain Frank Thieser explains.

36 Conference Report The M&S and the German Armed Forces. DWT and SGW sponsored the 9th symposium on M&S. Walter F. Ullrich reports.

38 Show Preview ITEC 2010. London, 18 to 20 May, and better than ever. Walter F. Ullrich previews the exhibition.

32

Training Technology

feature Articles

100 Years of Flight Simulation – and Nobody Noticed!

Walter F. Ullrich highlights the first two decades of flight simulation.

40 NEWS Seen and Heard. A round up of developments in simulation and training.

Edited by Lori Ponoroff.

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

07

Interview

ACT’s JET and Language and Cultural Training To learn how the NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is working to improve language and cultural training for NATO, Joint and Coalition Forces, MS&T interviewed Norwegian Air Force Brigadier General Kurt Pedersen, Assistant Chief of Staff for the ACT Joint Education and Training (JET) division.

J

ET harmonises curricula throughout the Alliance’s educational facilities; validates NATO training; and develops policy for and coordinates the development of training guides. JET also spearheads the NATO distance learning effort, including the NATO/Partnership for Peace Joint Advanced Distributed Learning (JADL) and Simulation section. JET is also responsible for developing and administering ACT Education and Training policy. In that capacity, BGen Pedersen also serves as acting Chairman for the NATO Training Group in addition to other responsibilities.

MS&T: To what degree do you feel that language and cultural differences between NATO and Coalition personnel from an increasing number of nations in operations at times reduces the effectiveness of those operations? In other words, is it a real problem or not?

Thanks for your interest in this topic, because what you ask is really at the core of our work, because language and cultural training is really important in the increasingly multinational joint deployed forces. Language and cultural differences can be seen as a factor in reduced opera08

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

tional effectiveness. I can tell you that language does present some challenges in the execution of operations, particularly in complex, high-tempo operations that cover the full spectrum. It is also true that language is one key aspect of culture and one language, namely English, helps build a cohesive staff and units. (The two official languages of NATO are English and French, with English a requirement for operations. –Ed.) In NATO, we use job descriptions and standardized proficiency levels to identify the language requirements for the different positions. This is laid down in NATO Standardization Agreements.

However, the challenge lies in the fact that it often becomes critical to “think” in English in order to add value to a unit or staff.

MS&T: Because of these increasing challenges, what actions is NATO ACT taking to improve language and cultural training?

ACT, through various education and training facilities, offers pre-deployment training with the goal of improving operational effectiveness. This training is conducted at NATO School Oberammergau, the Joint Warfare Center, Joint Force

Above The Joint Education and Training (JET) division is located at ACT Headquarters in Norfolk, VA, USA. Image credit: HQ SACT Photo Lab.

Training Center and at other facilities such as some Centers of Excellence and Partnership Training Centers.

The courses and training events at these locations have increasingly integrated cultural training, which again leads to better understanding and respect for the theater-specific cultural patchwork. This subsequently leads to increased operability. In support of residential courses and training events, we also offer online education and training opportunities, which increasingly will be set as prerequisites for the resident event. However, these courses are also very useful for those who do not attend the residential training, and for refresher and continuation updates. It is important to note that cultural awareness is an integral part of these online courses.

MS&T: Could you provide us with some specific examples of online language and culture courses you mentioned that are a

professional series

part of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) effort?

ACT is constantly searching for new and improved training solutions, which will enable the target student audience to take courses from anywhere at any time. The ACT Headquarters has supported the team developing the English Language Training Enhancement Course, or ELTEC. We are also working with USJFCOM on the development of the online Accent Reduction Course which is programmed to be completed to be completed by the third quarter of 2010. This course is also for native English speakers so that they can better understand non-native English-speaking personnel. Its effectiveness will also be evaluated, along with considerations that the course could possibly be targeted for deploying forces.

ADL has become increasingly effective, and it is true that it saves travel budgets as well as days away from work.

Evidently, personnel will have to be given time off work for these courses, but travel time is effectively eliminated. In most cases though, distance learning must be considered as pre-training to residential courses and training events. As such,

Above Norwegian Air Force Brigadier General Kurt Pedersen Image credit: NATO.

the ADL serves a vital role in leveling the knowledge capability of students, which again will make the schoolhouse sessions even more effective and efficient.

MS&T: How is simulation being incorporated into language and cultural training courses?

ACT is constantly browsing the market for off-the-shelf products and adaptation of them. In the area of Cultural Awareness this is most likely the most affordable way of progressing with virtual interactive training.

We are thin on simulation in ADL Courses. However, the ambition is to, where feasible, integrate simulation in our future ADL courses. Presently, simulation is an integral part of individual and collective training. It also represents the core capability of computer-assisted exercises. We are also looking into making use of gaming technology in individual training. More on the technological side, it seems that we have to further study what interoperability tools are available between ADL SCORM standard and simulation standards.

MS&T: Language training per se is good, but applying it in the right context takes a better understanding of the culture of the native speaker. How is ACT working to merge these two vital aspects of communication?

You can learn language as much as

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• ISSUE 2/2010 MS&T MAGAZINE26.04.2010 16:03:06 09

Interview

you want, but if you cannot utilize it in an operation, it is more or less worthless. So the answer is to train as you operate when you are deployed. We have training events where people come together when they deploy, and they not only learn the procedures and the way things are done, but they also learn to better understand each other – we call it human interoperability. We can provide a better understanding for each other’s cultures via common training events.

One significant training initiative is the desire to integrate a comprehensive approach into training events and also leveraging role-players and currently

deployed staffs to replicate the most realistic training event possible. The comprehensive approach is a recognition that a large portion of the issues that the Alliance is facing in these complex operations require more than a military solution.

Another key initiative is to replicate as closely as possible the real operating environment. Real events are “imported” as training events and staffs that are currently deployed, along with participants that include Afghan role-players in the case of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) training. This provides a level of realistic training that is unparalleled. For example, the oppor-

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tunity to train with Afghan National Army or Police is highly valuable and increases the training output by several notches for Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams.

MS&T: What is the most important training focus for newer nations participating in NATO and Coalition operations in regard to language and cultural training?

I would start by saying that all courses in NATO are open to troops from contributing nations. We are opening up our training events and courses so that they can get and receive the same amount of training that the rest of NATO is getting.

When new nations are entering NATO, such as Albania and Croatia, they will have to have some emphasis on language training, namely English, because they didn’t do so previously. There will be an extra effort in force buildup in these nations. When they do that, other courses in other nations with Partnership Training Centers and other national facilities are also open to those nations so that they can expand their skills.

MS&T: Where do we need to go from here to further improve human interoperability between NATO, Joint and Coalition forces?

We can achieve better overall interoperability, and in particular better human interoperability, through increased focus on creating more standards that all, particularly nations, can relate to on a national level before they get involved in NATO pre-deployment training. Many nations have good language and cultural aspects to their training, but not all at the same levels.

This is a NATO concern. So the focus will be on culture and trying to find other, better ways to offer languages that are missing.

However, you can only achieve so much with standardization, and you need to have this joint common training. Otherwise, you would only get the theoretical parts of the standardization.

We need to do the common training before you go into theater. And we need to look into new areas that enhance the forces’ ability to look at challenges a bit more holistically than just the military side. We need the most realistic training approaches. There are many challenges in the theater, and not all of them have a military solution. ms&t

Technology Application

The Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT) – a gaming technology-based course focused on the languages and cultures of Horn of Africa countries.

Image credit: USJFCOM.

Language and Culture on the Run Game based platforms are providing broad access to language and cultural training.

Chuck Weirauch describes an example.

A

s the number and diversity of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) operations have increased, so too has the need broadened for a better understanding of the languages and cultures of that continent by US Joint Forces, Coalition and US services personnel. It is particularly true for those deployed for Combined Joint Task Force missions in the Horn of Africa region, which includes the troubled country of Somalia. It is also the perfect opportunity for the application of non-traditional language and cultural training technologies and methodologies to accomplish that goal not only for the African continent but other emerging volatile regions where there may be need of military, economic and humanitarian assistance.

VCAT An emerging trend is to provide predeployment language and cultural courseware online for individual and 12

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

small group training and make it widely available anytime and anywhere through US service Web information portals. A recent example is the Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT), a gaming technology-based course focused on the languages and cultures of Horn of Africa countries.

The VCAT went live via the US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Joint Knowledge Development and Distribution Capability (JKDDC)’s Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) Web portal in September 2009. The US Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems (PMTRASYS) served as the VCAT development agent for VCAT Horn of Africa (HOA), and contracted with Alelo, Inc. for the courseware development according to JKDDC requirements. The Marine Corps of Continuing Education also plans to make VCAT available to all Marines by hosting it on its MarineNet Web knowledge portal.

According to Martin Bushika,

PMTRASYS Program Manager for Culture and Language Training, the VCAT environment employs immersive simulation and gaming technology for Joint warriors operating in multiple areas of responsibility for multiple mission types and multiple scenarios. The VCAT provides realistic training by featuring the physical environment, economic environment, political system and social structure for each of the 13 Horn of Africa countries in multiple scenarios where the trainee interacts with avatars, he explained.

Bushika, JKDDC Director Joe Camacho and Alelo president Lewis Johnson together made the presentation “Cultural Training, the Web’s Next Gaming Frontier” at the 2009 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). In VCAT HOA, each trainee receives an automatically tailored program of instruction according to their assigned country area of responsibility, mission and mission

responsibilities, with a specific focus on civil affairs operations and pre-deployment site surveys.

“Game-based language and culture training systems can be used to provide an operational language and culture training capability best suited for the general purpose Joint and Coalition forces,” Bushika said.

New Applications According to Camacho, VCAT HOA has become such a big success that the Defense Language Office wanted JKDDC to complete virtual cultural awareness training for all of Africa, an effort which is currently underway.

This Africa-encompassing trainer will incorporate basic fundamental culture and some language training, along with regional overviews and specific nuances, Camacho explained. The courseware will also feature scenarios targeted towards humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and crisis response, he added.

JKDDK has also taken the VCAT technology and approach and is transitioning and modifying it to target the personnel who are deploying to Afghan-

istan, Camacho said. This Afghanistan variant of VCAT will include content for such things as very specific tactical engagements, initial meetings, tribal differences, checkpoint manning and mentoring. These requirements come from the field as a prioritized list of training that personnel should receive prior to deploying to Afghanistan, and JKDDK plans to have this courseware completed by this summer. The fivehour Pashto and Dari language and culture academics program will also include a virtual exercise feature where trainees can rehearse for each one of the included training scenarios, Camacho added.

“The goal is to take the JKO’s goal of providing Web-based individual and small group training one step further,” Camacho said. “After they complete basic training, we want to put services personnel in a virtual environment where they get to do a mission rehearsal or earn a mission certification. We wanted to use the gaming approach to make this courseware fun and interactive, as well as an enriching experience, by using the latest learning methodologies and techniques to be more effective

and to have students retain the training longer.”

The Marine Corps is also working to further invigorate and expand its gaming technology-based language and culture training through its new Operational Language and Culture Training System (OLACTS), Bushika pointed out. The OLACTS is an expansion of the earlier prototype Tactical Language Training System and is also currently at the prototype stage. The system will focus on scenarios that emphasize face-to-face communication, and it will include the Tactical Iraqi language program and Dari and Pashto languages.

“The goal of the Web-based OLACTS system is to provide a continuous language and culture training capability that can be delivered via a desktop or laptop computer, as well as hand-held devices,” Bushika said. “The hand-held devices will be employed for skills sustainment. OLACTS will also include a mission rehearsal platform that uses virtual players within VBS2 to assess trainee performance in a realistic environment. Trainee performance will be recorded in a learning management system as well.” ms&t

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Technology Application

Embedded Training Policy, Technology, and Research are shaping the future of embedded training. Jeff Loube explains.

T

here is a rich and growing history of embedded training. Past issues of MS&T have addressed “big iron� systems such as the BFTT (Battle Force Tactical Trainer), with a major thrust to provide a dynamic, interactive war fighting environment for combat teams; ACTS (AEGIS Combat Training System) fitted in the AEGIS

CG-47 class guided missile cruisers and DDG-51 class destroyers, provides team training capabilities and individual training to the Combat Information Center (CIC) team; FCS (Future Combat Systems) Embedded Training (ET) addresses the capability of warfighters to use their operational systems to train on platform-specific tasks, on courses

Above Marines from the 2d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, train with the Future Immersive Training Environment.

Image credit: U.S. Navy/John F. Williams.

that support Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) qualification for professional development and on operational related

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Embedded training on route to mission rehearsal and decision support

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subjects. The spread of the Navy’s Open Architecture Computing Environment (OACE) throughout the Fleet will facilitate the expansion of weapons and operating systems that feature embedded training systems.

The move towards, and evolution of, embedded training is expected to continue, driven by the nexus of operational requirements and resource constraints.

The holy grail of embedded training is the capability to train within the context of the operational system, with little instructional overhead - in other words systems that include both the learning environment and the instructional methods. And embedded training has become embedded in policy. The 2006 US DoD Training Transformation (T2) implementation plan describes embedded training as “capabilities built into, strapped onto, or plugged into operational materiel systems to train, sustain, and enhance individual and crew skill proficiencies necessary to operate and maintain the equipment.” Furthermore, the policy requires embedded training to function through a joint architecture using common standards with integrated live, virtual, and constructive training systems. All Major Defense Acquisition Programs will include embedded training and human performance aiding capabilities in the programs where appropriate. Through embedded training and deployable training infrastructure, it is intended that forces will be able to train globally, and manage and assess readiness regardless of location or dura-

tion of deployed operations. The Feb 2009 T2 Strategic Plan underscores this intent stating that since forces will operate together as a cohesive unit anywhere on the globe, training capabilities must have the same characteristics, including the capability to accomplish training anywhere anytime. It adds that it is critical that training be accomplished in an integrated way which mirrors actual operations.

While the plans and policies confirm the vision and define the boundaries, there is more to meeting the challenge.

NAWC TSD researcher Ms. Wendi Van Buskirk points out that in the last 10 years, great strides were made in computer technology, including advanced realism in simulations, however, this focus on technology came at a price. “In the past, I believe we have been so focused on technology development that we haven’t really spent much time on evaluating the many different instructional techniques and performance measurement strategies that can be automated within these systems,” says Van Buskirk. Fortunately, she adds, current diverse findings arising out of basic research programs are supporting the development of diagnostic modeling algorithms determining which individual difference variables (e.g., prior knowledge, cognitive ability) will be most advantageous for adapting training content, and empirical evaluations of the effectiveness of different types of feedback that can be presented to trainees The research program entitled “Adaptive Training for Submarine Navi-

gation and Piloting Teams” sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) focusses on these issues. Adaptive training systems are systems in which performance is continuously measured & assessed and instruction is adapted to the strengths and weaknesses of the trainee based on this assessment.

The production of effective adaptive scenario-based training poses scientific challenges with regards to performance measurement and modeling in that a diverse set of human-centric performance data (e.g., timing, accuracy, communication patterns, physiology, & neurology) must be captured, integrated and represented computationally.

Van Buskirk explains that the goal is to improve measurement reliability within simulation training systems by capturing more robust data in addition to timing and accuracy data and to develop sophisticated diagnostic algorithms to incorporate these multiple data streams. She notes there is a lack of empirically based guidance to drive the optimal selection of an adaptive instructional mitigation given a trainee’s state or scenario context and therefore the intent is to develop empirically validated recommendations for effective instructional adaptations and implement these within an existing submarine scenario-based trainer.

While leveraging basic research findings is helping realize the goal of developing adaptive embedded systems, it’s not good enough to just build a system - evaluation is important. Van Buskirk explains: “ In terms of key issues

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www.kmweg.com MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 1/2010

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Technology Application

to overcome, I believe evaluation is critical. As a research community, evaluation will help us determine which techniques improve learning and performance and which do not”. Additionally, she notes, there is a need to determine the return on investment of embedded training and adaptive training systems. These types of systems are expensive to build and there is a need to determine the value added in terms of increasing training effectiveness and efficiency and reducing instructor resources.

Technology, however is relentless.

Stretching the concept of embedded training to where man is the weapon system is FITE (Future Immersive Training Environment) JCTD (Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration), where the challenge is to provide a scenario based immersive training experience for the infantryman using virtual reality and augmented reality approaches. Quantum3D’s ExpeditionDI®, a man-worn computing system provides an open architecture platform for integrating simulation and game software, such as, in this case VBS2.

InterSense provides its InertiaCube sensors to the Quantum3D ExpeditionDI

system. These sensors are used to provide visual feedback with Quantum3D’s head mounted display of how the soldier is interacting with the virtual training scenario. A wireless orientation sensor on the weapon provides a direction the weapon is pointing; a leg-worn orientation sensor indicates whether the soldier is standing, kneeling or lying down; and a helmet-mounted sensor provides the soldier with a view of the virtual training environment oriented to the direction of his gaze.

Dean Wormell, director of applica-

Above Technology is enhancing ground-based simulation through realistic and immersive training.

Image credit: U.S. Army/Josh LeCappelain.

tions marketing notes that InterSense is currently developing a next generation tracking technology, which could be deployed both as embedded training for dismounted soldiers and be used in operational scenarios to improve situational awareness while reducing fratricide. The

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10838 MS&T Ad.indd 1

4/6/2010 5:27:45 PM

NavShoe technology uses InterSense’s next generation inertial measurement unit, the NavChip, to track the location of personnel in GPS denied areas.

Peter Morrison, CEO, Bohemia Interactive Simulations Group, notes that the German company, EuroSimtec, is performing some interesting work embedding VBS2 with real UAV controllers.

There is currently an initiative developing to improve VBS2 for tank gunnery training, with a view to embedding it in Challenger II crew procedural trainers in the near future.

Further on VBS2 developments, Edmond Heinbockel, CEO of Visual Purple, says to look for an announcement at ITEC with respect to another embedded training application using VBS2, however, he was reluctant to comment further. Visual Purple has fielded embedded training systems for the intelligence community and he stated they were in the initial stages of two new DoD embedded training applications in operational environments, but could not talk specifics. Heinbockel comments that he sees a “growing interest across all branches of DoD. Nobody likes a training tail, especially in theatre”.

As MS&T has noted in the past, embedded training seems to be a specialty of some companies. Elbit Systems offers embedded and live solutions for air, air-defense, ground and naval platforms, a unique combination that makes it - following the acquisition of BVR Systems - the only company in the world offering such a wide range of embedded solutions.

Elbit Systems offers a broad range of embedded solutions, for aircraft, air defense, land vehicles and naval platforms. According to a Elbit spokesperson, Dana Tal, the uniqueness of Elbit Systems embedded training solutions is the fact that they are all designed to work in a network environment, thus they can offer joint operational training between different forces. To date, Elbit Systems has been involved in over 30 embedded training projects worldwide.

Elbit considers there are three significant issues that must be addressed in embedded training systems. The main challenge is to develop simulators that are able to function in an operational environment that is low in resources.

Another is the creation of joint training while having to adopt relatively narrow

band datalinks available on operational platforms to connect between different forces or trainees in a network. And another key issue is the interface with operational systems on-board while maintaining maximum training safety.

There is a consensus that embedded training applications will continue to grow in response to operational, training and resource needs. Not only is the technology improving, but so is the understanding of the instructional methods which will maximize the training effectiveness of embedded systems. Elbit expects networked training to significantly grow as the C4I (command, control, communications, computers) field expands into various forces and calls for ever growing joint forces training and coordination.

Likewise, COTS vendor Presagis is seeing a strong demand for military embedded training applications.

A spokesman notes there will be even greater emphasis on embedded training in the years to come, especially as technology advances will allow embedded training applications to better replicate ground simulator-based scenarios in actual vehicles. ms&t

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Technology Application

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MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

AAI_Tng_MS&T_Issue2Apr10:AAI 4/2/10 11:00 AM Page 1

TRAINING: FROM NEEDS TO RESULTS

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Training Technology

Leveraging Game Technology: When are Games the Answer?

Researchers in AFRL Mesa’s GRIL Laboratory are seeking to answer just those kinds of questions.

1Lt Adam Pohl and 2Lt Joel Walker discuss the issues.

G

ame-based research and technology is a hot topic within the training community. Scientists are constantly attempting to answer the questions: are games a valid form of training, how effective is game based training, what aspects of gaming can be applied to the training realm, and what are the implications for games as part of a family of complimentary trainers concept which includes Live, Virtual, and Constructive players and entities? The 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Warfighter Readiness Research Division (711 HPW/RHA) is pursuing several avenues of research regarding these questions under the auspices of research programs in the Gaming Research for Integrated Learning (GRIL) Laboratory.

We need to define game technology as it is used in the GRIL, because terms such as “game technology” have 22

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

become buzz words ultimately used to define any number of disparate things, and it has no widely accepted meaning.

A game is merely a structured activity; a set of interactive states whose outcome is based on the user’s choices. Key components of games are goals, rules, challenges, and interaction with single players, a group of players, or an extended network of players. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, can often involve both, and usually build to increasingly more difficult scenarios.

Many games help develop practical skills by serving as a form of exercise that is either educational, provides a simulation of the skill being learned, or provides a psychological analysis role.

A computer game played by a user can be defined by one or many different pieces of software and hardware working together to create the experience; this is the medium in which the game takes place. This is an important con-

Above GRIL Laboratory - one of several AFRL Mesa sponsored venues to evaluate gaming for training; running from left to right: XPlane, VBS2, XCITE, and Bluebox HD. Image credit: AFRL, Mesa.

cept to understand, since a game is not software and hardware specifically, but rather the experience a user has while interacting with software and hardware.

Often the term “game” is attached to the medium a game can exist in, or the hardware used to support that medium, which can be confusing. The cognitive representations of the virtual world, and the user’s understanding and interaction with it, create the potential environment for learning and training to take place.

A game is what the user experiences during this interaction, and it is through behavioral experience that information is conveyed and learning accomplished,

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Training Technology

therefore, this is where the benefits of game-based training come from.

The software and associated hardware a user interacts with while in the gaming environment is referred to as game technology; it displays instructions, provides feedback, and serves as an integrated User Interface (UI) for the game experience. For example, a piece of software we are investigating is a flight simulator program from Laminar Research, called X-Plane®, which serves as a cockpit interface for interacting with other simulations. X-Plane works in conjunction with support software developed by the GRIL Laboratory and external commercial entities to make the various software solutions more useful for behavioral research. The hardware is just that, either game specific technology (graphics cards, joysticks, remote controls, etc.) or more generalized technology (processor, monitors, keyboards, etc.).

Often any interaction a user has with information is mistakenly thought of as a game. While a game does imply user interaction with presented information, a series of choices made in pursuit of an end state by a user can be part of the equation. This end state has some objec-

Above The GRIL team has done a substantial amount of work with the X-Plane flight simulator program.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force.

tive value; in the most basic case a winning or losing state where the degree of winning or losing introduces the concept of “points.” Using game mechanics as

a training tool can be effective because games imply a feedback mechanism; a user applies knowledge to the game state, and gets feedback as to whether it was a good choice or not. Good choices and winning imply knowledge gained, but scientific performance-based measurement is needed to document the skill levels gained from the experience.

While many avenues of research exist in this field, pursued by many dif-

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ferent organizations, the focus of the GRIL is to leverage high fidelity gamebased environments for learning in contexts that are germane to military tasks and requirements, and to quantify their contribution to overall warfighter mission effective performance. To do this, we are identifying the qualities inherent in a good training system, identifying the features of games that are engaging and motivating, looking for intersections where opportunities exist to improve learning using games, and if not, modifying those environments to include those qualities.

To explore these ideas, GRIL team members apply the concept of a training game to a simplified military scenario.

In a generic combat scenario, a forward observer on the ground (such as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller or JTAC), has oversight on a convoy moving into a city when the convoy is suddenly under attack by an enemy from a rooftop.

The JTAC must work with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and F-16 pilot in the area to take out the enemy as fast as possible. In the simulated world of the gaming environment, the players interact in the scenario based on the reality defined by different pieces of software.

In this case, the JTAC views the world through a ground simulation program from Bohemia Interactive Australia, called Virtual Battle Space 2 (VBS2™).

The RPA pilot uses a system developed by L-3 Link Simulation & Training, called Blue Box HD™. The F-16 pilot uses the GRIL’s modified version of X-Plane. Each program runs on its own PC, all of which are networked through a gigabit switch. Each of these pieces of software use a common set of terrain and model databases correlated with real-world data. These programs are tied together through a server and client software solution (internally developed) that manages the actual experiment.

Each user has a client program running on a small laptop next to their desktop station. It is through this software the user receives instructions and interacts with the other players in a controlled way.

To illustrate, an F-16 pilot could be instructed to employ weapons against the enemy targets on the roof. The processes of coordinating the strike with the JTAC, visually acquiring the target, and going into an attack pattern require complex communications and interaction as variables change during mission

execution. Each requires several sets of skills, with each skill representing a learning point in the training process.

The ability to play the game and successfully execute a mission demonstrates acquisition of knowledge. The score of the game (defined by the variables of time taken and choices made) determines how ingrained the knowledge becomes, at least in respect to the game itself. Participants then complete a series of research questions pertaining to the tasks determining whether this training elicits an actual gain in knowledge.

While determining the effectiveness of game based training can be difficult, applying these methods can provide key insights. To further game-based research and training capabilities the GRIL laboratory is exploring the development of a family of gaming research technologies and methods. Eventually, a common authoring and assessment capability, applicable within and across programs, will be established.

This common capability will allow users to develop scenarios, collect data, and interact with the game based upon the knowledge and skill sets required for particular job sets.

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Training Technology

X-Plane™ DIS Integration Suite (XDIS) Within the field of game technology development, the GRIL team has done a substantial amount of work with the X-Plane flight simulator program. We have designed a variety of software plugins to allow X-Plane to exist in a virtual environment within the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) network protocol. With plug-ins, X-Plane can visualize, be seen by, and interact with all entities within the DIS environment. The plug-in also has the ability to natively draw Open Flight models, a common standard within the 3D modeling industry and readily available within the Air Force Research Laboratory, eliminating the need to build or buy models. The plug-in can run passively, transmitting the location of the X-Plane flight vehicle and interpreting DIS entities for display, it can interact with the simulation by sending DIS data packets to synthetic simulations servers, and it can attach to DIS entities, essentially turning X-Plane into an Out the Window (OTW) view for the simulation.

We extend the use of X-Plane to large scale simulation by using disparate soft-

ware for interactivity and modifying the drawing functions of X-Plane to visualize the components of the simulation.

Most of our work deals with network processing of the different entities within the simulation, a task X-Plane was not originally intended to do. In fact, one of the major problems is parallelizing these processes so the frame rate does not drop below the usable level of ~30 frames per second.

Getting X-Plane to draw OpenFlight models was another significant challenge. X-Plane essentially functions as an OpenGL loader program, allowing us to use functions within OpenGL to draw our models. X-Plane must handle the task of managing the position and orientation of the models, and uses open source software (OpenSceneGraph) to handle the actual draw functions. The end result is the ability to leverage the library of available OpenFlight models to draw the external air and ground entities, decreasing cost and development time.

This also allows X-Plane to function as a combatant station within a simulation. While a pilot trains within a higherfidelity simulator, the instructor could

potentially take over the role of an enemy fighter or wingman using X-Plane without needing a matching high-end simulator. By integrating this capability, there would be an only slightly higher overall cost of the simulation system, and an increase in the training value for the student pilot in the high-fidelity simulator.

Summary The 711 HPW/RHA GRIL team is continuing to develop and evaluate new technologies and approaches to game based training in order to determine if games can play a complimentary role in increasing training effectiveness while keeping design, development, and delivery costs low. The methods we create, in conjunction with our research goals, provide the data necessary to determine the effectiveness of alternative training strategies, and potentially serve other training domains. ms&t About the Authors 1Lt Adam Pohl and 2Lt Joel Walker are both members of the GRIL team at 711 Human Performance Wing, Warfighter Readiness Research Division, AFRL Mesa Research Site, AZ.

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Lieutenant Colonel Matthew R. Rajkovich, Plans & Policies, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation Department, HQ, U. S. Marine Corps

Major Matthew Moore, Watchkeeper Implementation Team, HQ Director Royal Artillery, British Army

Lieutenant Colonel Javier Fernandez, SpAF, Combat Air Branch, NATO Joint Air Power Competence Centre

Major Daniel Böhm, Chief, UAS Pilots, Swiss Air Force

Wing Commander Don Evans, Chief of Air Staff Fellowship, RAF, Cranfield University Commander Karl Garcia, (US Navy), Coalition Team Lead, Joint UAS Centre of Excellence, USAF

Wing Commander John Clarke, 22 Training Group, RAF Lieutenant Colonel Deb Lee, Deputy Commander, 49 Operations Group, USAF Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Marleau, Section Head, A3 Unmanned Air Vehicles, Air Division, Canadian DND

Squadron Leader Keven Gambold, Royal Air Force, Forward Air Controller Capability Branch, Allied Air Component Command, NATO Ramstein Major Jean-Marc Ruaux, UAV Mission Commander, UAV Operations, Air Component, Belgian Armed Forces

Major Bryan ‘Squeeze’ Callahan, Predator/Reaper Operations Branch, Air Combat Command A3YU, USAF Robert Englehart, Deputy Chief, ATEC UAS Training Branch, USAF Stephane Albert, Director of Corporate Strategic Planning, Marketing and Business, CAE Nir Lapidot, Head of Air Operation, Malat Division, IAI/Malat Naman Albert Rahamim, UAS Training & Simulation Systems Manager, IAI/Malat

T: +44 (0)20 7368 9300 E: enquire@defenceiq.com w: www.uavtrainingconf.com Your registration code is: IGB_18580.001_MS&T_AD 26

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

MILITARY SIMULATION & TRAINING

NEWS

Issue no. 22 Spring 2010/Summer 2010

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Executive Corner 2 Extending the application of modeling and simulation

Feature Story 3 RAF Pumas begin life extension programme

Technology Developments 4 Exploring the future of dynamic synthetic environments Next-generation training ... It’s not just a game. It’s a science.

Program Spotlight 6 Welcome to Buckeburg – Home of the German Army Aviation School

one step ahead

Capabilities Focus 7 Progessing the use of modeling and simulation across the Canadian Forces

News & Notes 8

Martin Gagné, Group President, Military Products, Training & Services

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of simulation as computing technology has become more powerful and more costeffective. Traditionally, modeling and simulation (M&S) has been used to support training. This specific application is well understood and employed by militaries and civilian agencies around the world, and CAE is best known for applying simulation to aviation training. In fact, we have established ourselves as a global leader in developing flight simulation products and delivering integrated training solutions, and we will continue to focus and invest to maintain a leadership position. However, we see significant growth and opportunity in taking the simulation out of the simulator and applying simulation across the complex defence systems lifecycle, including simulation support for analysis and operations.

There is a convergence of applications occurring for modeling and simulation. The same modeling and simulation approaches and technologies can be used to support analysis, training, and operations. When you consider the increasing complexity of network centric operations where multiple systems from multiple nations will operate together in a mission context, modeling and simulation can help enable their operational success. As decision makers face ever more complex environments, simulation is seen as an enabling technology for better and timelier decision making.

At CAE, we see a not-too-distant future where the synthetic environments created to support research and development programs will be re-used and refined throughout the defence systems lifecycle, supporting weapon system design and testing, creating the training environments to prepare personnel to use those new systems, and providing the decision support tools necessary to support mission planning in operations. Traditionally, synthetic environments and simulation-based training systems were built independently to support the same weapon system at different stages of the lifecycle. This approach is no longer desirable,

2

Extending the application of modeling and simulation cost-effective or sufficient. Simulation is now advanced and capable enough of allowing government agencies and defence forces to take an integrated and holistic approach to the application of M&S to analysis, training and operations.

Just as simulation delivers significant cost and safety advantages during training, applying simulation during the up-front research and analysis phase of a program lifecycle delivers similar advantages. During system design and development, M&S is an essential element of the engineering process. Simulation-based virtual models help validate requirements, simulation is used for human-in-the-loop system evaluations to ensure design usability, and simulation-based synthetic environments can be used to test and evaluate prototypes. At CAE, we have a large team of people who are part of our Defence and Professional Services organization. These people are expert at helping organizations apply simulation to research, experimentation and analysis. For example, you can read in this newsletter how our Professional Services organization is helping the Canadian Forces design and develop the Canadian Advanced Synthetic Environment (CASE) project, which is enhancing Canada’s M&S capability across analysis, training and operations.

In operations, being able to visualize your area of operations as well as conduct real-time

“what-if” scenarios is essential for maintaining situational awareness. By embedding M&S with operational systems, commanders and other decision-makers can better understand the situations they face on the battlefield. A good example of this is CAE’s development of an Augmented Visionics System (AVS). Using state-of-the-art sensor technologies fused with simulation capabilities, CAE’s AVS is allowing pilots to see through harsh conditions, providing a virtual representation of the environment around them. CAE’s AVS solution combines Neptec’s Obscurant Penetrating Autosynchronous LIDAR (OPAL) sensor with visual databases using the CAE-developed common database (CDB) framework. The fundamental concept for CAE’s AVS solution is to use OPAL’s 3D sensor data to update the visual database in the cockpit for real-time display of a synthetic image showing an accurate depiction of the area surrounding the helicopter. CAE’s AVS updates the synthetic environment using real-time sensor data to identify physical obstacles for pilots to navigate safely.

Modeling and simulation allows people to find innovative solutions to complex and challenging problems. It has been proven to work effectively for training and now CAE is setting our sights on finding new and innovative ways to apply simulation to analysis, training and operations.

CAE’s AVS generates a synthetic representation in the cockpit of what the pilot “sees” when flying in a brownout.

Executive Corner

RAF Pumas begin life extension programme The Royal Air Force (RAF) has operated Puma helicopters since the aircraft first entered service in 1971. For almost four decades, the Puma has been used as a battlefield helicopter providing a range of support operations, including tactical troop transport, load movement and medical evacuation by day or night. The RAF Puma fleet was originally planned for retirement in 2012, but now, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) has embarked on a Puma life extension programme that will see up to 28 aircraft remain in service through at least 2022.

Under a contract signed last year with Eurocopter UK, the RAF’s Puma helicopters will receive a number of modifications, including new and more powerful engines, new flight control equipment and modern cockpit and communications technologies. The new Puma engines will provide 35 percent more power and 25 percent better fuel-efficiency than the existing engines. Beginning in 2011, upgraded Puma helicopters will begin returning to their home base of 33 Squadron at RAF Benson as the Puma Mk2, with all 28 aircraft expected to be completed by 2014.

“The increased Puma capability will be significant, primarily as the result of the engine upgrade which will enhance range, endurance and payload capability in hot and high climates,” said Wing Commander Alistair Howard, Officer Commanding 33 Squadron. “In addition, the complete makeover of the cockpit and improved integrated self-defence suite will provide additional capabilities to the Puma Force.”

With the RAF Puma fleet receiving a major upgrade, it also means the training systems required to support the Puma Force will require a significant update. The UK MoD is currently working closely with CAE Aircrew Training Services plc to finalize the upgrade plan for the existing Puma full-mission simulator located at CAE’s Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF). The CAE-built simulator will be upgraded to ensure concurrency with the new Puma Mk2 aircraft.

The MSHATF was developed by CAE in conjunction with the UK MoD’s Equipment Capability, Training and Procurement staff. The training centre on-site at RAF Benson, home of the Puma 33 Squadron

Feature Story

and Merlin’s 28 and 78 Squadron’s, comprises a purpose-built, fully integrated trainivng facility for Puma, Chinook and Merlin helicopter aircrews. CAE’s MSHATF, which began operations in 1999, features six full-mission simulators, including one for the Puma, as well as the world’s most sophisticated tactical control centre to support networked and distributed mission training.

The simulator upgrade resulting from the Puma life extension programme will follow some other upgrades recently completed by CAE on the Puma full-mission simulator. CAE added a display night vision goggle (DNVG) training capability to provide Puma aircrews with the ability to view various instrument readings through a monocle attached to the pilot’s NVGs. This allows RAF Puma aircrews to undertake pre-deployment and tactical training in the simulator as opposed to performing this training in the operational aircraft. In addition, CAE is currently underway on performing major upgrades on two of the Chinook full-mission simulators at the MSHATF to ensure concurrency with the RAF’s growing and upgraded fleet of Chinook helicopters.

“Our MSHATF continues to be one of the most advanced helicopter training facilities of its type anywhere in the world,” said Ian Bell, Managing Director of CAE Aircrew Training Services plc. “We have an excellent partnership with the UK MoD and Joint Helicopter Command that ensures we offer contemporary turnkey training services tailored to the RAF’s requirements. The foundation of this partnership is the recognition of the importance that synthetic training plays in the overall readiness and mission success of the RAF helicopter aircrews.”

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Database changes in real-time: Exploring the future of dynamic synthetic environments Synthetic environments for military simulation and mission rehearsal have rapidly developed into relatively sophisticated representations of out-the-window (OTW) virtual worlds, increasingly sophisticated sensors, and computer-generated forces (CGF) to animate friendly and enemy orders-of-battle. For a variety of reasons, generally related to getting the best performance possible in run-time simulations, the synthetic environment has been rendered from computer databases that were highly optimized for their specific end use. The common database (CDB), originally developed by CAE for the United States Special Operations Command, saw the introduction of an open specification and run-time software that uses a single run-time database to support sophisticated OTW, CGF, and sensor simulations.

From the earliest days of CDB technology development, CAE engineers anticipated the requirement to model and use “delta” common databases to deal with small or incremental changes in the synthetic environment. Also, from the beginning of the CDB, engineers theorized it would be possible to use delta CDBs to introduce dynamic changes to synthetic environments. These dynamic changes would then be recognized in run-time without the need to stop the simulation.

and without advance preparation. Further, the time-variant terrain elements need to be able to persist after the individual run-time simulation that generated them is terminated. The dynamic elements need to be accurately correlated between visual, sensor, CGF, and other simulation-client representations. Finally, the successful dynamic synthetic environment needs to “scale” from laptop systems to large, distributed, mixed-architecture LVC confederations.

At the most recent Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world’s largest military simulation event held annually in Orlando, Florida, CAE privately demonstrated an early prototype of a CDB-based dynamic synthetic environment.

In the demonstration scenario, an air-dropped weapon created a crater, which was correctly modeled as a three-dimensional dynamic element transformed into “delta” CDB datasets and recorded on a CDB server. An OTW visual display and two CGFs were notified that the database was changed, and subsequently, loaded the affected area of the database without stopping the simulations. Before-andafter scenarios clearly demonstrated that the same dynamic element was represented accurately in both the visual and CGF representations.

Military simulation and mission rehearsal end-users have The successful I/ long desired and recognized ITSEC demonstration the need for the synthetic Shown here are multiple representations of a crater resulting from a dynamic event such as has provided a wellenvironment database the detonation of a bomb. CAE is developing the capability for databases to change and update grounded foundation elements to change in real“dynamically” in real-time. for follow-on research time. Weapons make holes and development to and craters, combat engineers move the terrain and buildings, weather has a dramatic effect on the generalize the affect, develop updated CDB software for additional environment and the impact of vehicles changes the terrain. Thus, simulation clients, and explore the performance implications of multiple these database elements, such as the description of the terrain, dynamic events. Further experiments will be designed to explore and cultural features and vegetation, would need to change dynamically model the performance and utility of this approach in a large, mixed in order for the synthetic environment to more accurately represent architecture, distributed simulation that persists over a relatively long period of time. the “real world”.

It is relatively straight-forward to design a method for introducing dynamic terrain elements into a single simulation client, such as the OTW display or CGF or radar. However, creating an architecture within which dynamic elements can be correlated and made to persist within a large distributed simulation has proven to be more difficult.

As military simulation continues the development of interoperability between live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) domains, each with different architectures, dynamic synthetic environments remain a significant technical challenge.

Starting in 2009, CAE began conducting research to evaluate the use of a common run-time format such as CDB as a way to provide for a dynamic synthetic environment. The objectives of the internal research and development program are to be able to change any element of the terrain database anywhere in a worldwide database, and do so without prior knowledge of where the changes will occur

4

The potential for using a persistent dynamic synthetic environment can be imagined well beyond simulation and mission rehearsal. An accurate and well-developed model of the battlefield that can be updated in real-time would no doubt prove useful for operational decision-making. In addition, a persistent and dynamic synthetic environment could serve as the container for all the useful information flooding operators from sensors and other intelligence sources currently employed on the battlefield.

CAE is excited about the possibility of exploring and demonstrating these vital new capabilities related to dynamic synthetic environments.

CAE will be conducting private demonstrations at both ITEC and I/ITSEC in 2010, and welcomes dialogue and discussion with potential military users. For more information, please contact david.graham@caemilusa.com.

Technology Developments

Next-generation training ...

It’s not just a game. It’s a science.

The training industry is in a new phase of evolution. Computing power has caught up with visualization capability such that high-fidelity virtual environments previously the domain of only the highest-fidelity full-mission simulators can now be displayed on laptops, mobile devices and integrated in gaming technology. Increasingly, the training industry is looking to webbased virtual worlds and gaming environments for students to learn and collaborate with team members around the world and work together virtually before they reach the battlefield. Instructors and students are asking for more realism in their training. They are motivated by complex and realistic scenarios, high-fidelity visualizations, and three-dimensional space.

CAE is a leader in delivering leading-edge modeling and simulation technologies and services. Now, the company is expanding its knowledge and capability in virtual world and gaming solutions. Not only is CAE helping customers understand how and when to use gaming and virtual worlds, but CAE is looking beyond the technology to understand how people learn, how they progress through simulationbased courses, and how different training tools influence the learning process. In other words, CAE is exploring the science of learning.

Through its Professional Services team, CAE is working with Defence Research and Development Canada to explore emerging training methodologies, tools, and concepts. One of the most interesting fields of study is the emerging field of intelligent tutoring and adaptive learning environments.

Adaptive Learning and Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Distance Learning Adaptive learning and intelligent tutoring are applications designed to improve a student’s distance learning experience. Two of the biggest challenges for teaching at a distance are the instructor’s ability to provide timely, relevant and valuable feedback to a student, and to adapt the course to the student’s individual learning style. These challenges make it difficult to be as responsive to the online student as an instructor would be in the classroom.

The objective of intelligent tutoring systems is to automate some of the supervision, facilitation and feedback required in self-paced learning. Intelligent tutoring systems are self-regulating systems used to control, deliver, and assess the learning content. Complex algorithms continuously incorporate feedback from the student’s performance, prior subject knowledge, and the speed of the training. This functionality

Technology Developments

permits live instructors to coach, provide more complex feedback, and deliver more intensive learning modules. Instructors, therefore, pass along their experiences and expert knowledge when and where it provides the most value.

Since everyone learns differently and at different speeds, these applications provide the ability to tailor each student’s “virtual” learning experience. Based on the student’s performance, the training is modified in real-time to meet the student’s needs.

CAE Professional Services is applying its expertise in cognitive psychology, learning technologies, and simulation to design and develop an intelligent, adaptive learning framework. This framework has widescale applications that go beyond military training and can support other CAE clients such as civil aviation, healthcare, energy, and security.

The flexibility offered by such environments will enhance learning, allowing students to develop personal navigation patterns and interaction behaviours that reflect their own cognitive characteristics. Such a system would provide every individual and team performing a task the benefit of a virtual instructor that is continuously monitoring their performance and enabling training objectives to be reached earlier. It will also support a just-in-time rehearsal capability.

Research to Solve a Real Problem Today The CAE Professional Services team is conducting applied research in intelligent tutoring and adaptive learning to solve a serious problem facing many of today’s militaries. The team is building an automated, adaptive training environment to assist the Canadian Forces with improvised explosive device training. The environment will provide students with a virtual instructor who continuously monitors their performance. The aim is for students to master highly complex and cognitive skills, and improve performance and master training objectives more quickly.

CAE Professional Services is leading research and innovation in next generation training. These efforts will help change how distance learning is conducted in the future by providing games and applications that are based in science. Individuals will receive the truly anytime, anywhere, on-demand training they are demanding.

For more information on this research, contact Dr. Simon Banbury, Senior Consultant, Human Factors for CAE Professional Services at simon.banbury@cae.com.

5

Welcome to Buckeburg –

Home of the German Army Aviation School The small town of Buckeburg, Germany, located south of Hamburg and only 60 kilometers west of Hannover, is known to many for the Buckeburg Castle and the Landesmuseum. The Buckeburg Castle has existed since the 14th century and is situated on an idyllic site overlooking the river. The Landesmuseum is the state museum built in 1905 to celebrate the history of Buckeburg.

But if you are in any way related to the military, you undoubtedly know Buckeburg as the location of one of the world’s most advanced helicopter training centres and the home of the German Army Aviation School.

The School of Army Aviation as it is sometimes called was established in 1959 and began operations at Buckeburg Air Base in 1960.

Germany took over facilities originally constructed by the Royal Air Force in the mid-1940’s. For the next several decades, the school supported the training and development of German Army Aviation personnel, including all helicopter pilots of the German Armed Forces.

In the mid-1990’s, Germany made a decision to upgrade and enhance the training of their helicopter pilots through the increased use of high-fidelity full-mission simulators. This led to CAE winning one of the largest contracts in the company’s history and began CAE’s close partnership with the German Army Aviation School at Buckeburg.

The state-of-the-art Hans E. Drebing simulator centre located at the German Army Aviation School houses 12 CAE-built full-mission helicopter simulators that went into service between 2002 and 2005. There are two UH1D and two CH-53G full-mission simulators that are used for type-rating and low-level flight

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training, as well as transition and night-vision goggle training. In addition, eight Eurocopter EC135 simulators are used for basic helicopter pilot training. All of the German Armed Forces helicopter pilots, including those from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, now train at the Hans E. Drebing simulator centre.

In addition to the training on the full-mission simulators, the centre supports a range of other critical training tasks, such as instrument flight training, instructor pilot training and tactical training. With such a large and missioncritical training establishment, maintenance and support is a high priority to the German Armed Forces. CAE GmbH has a team of on-site personnel who support the simulator centre. Each day, a team of CAE technicians power up the simulators to conduct morning readiness tests to prepare the simulators for the start of flight and mission training at 6:00am. Throughout the day, CAE personnel make any necessary repairs and oversee the logistics and support required by German Army instructors. Late each night, CAE technicians take care of any issues that may have come up during the day of training, and perform routine maintenance on systems such as motion, display and control loading.

The high-quality service and support provided

by CAE GmbH since the opening of the simulator centre was reinforced recently when CAE GmbH won a competitive procurement to continue providing maintenance and training support services for the next six years at the German Army Aviation School. CAE is also playing a key role in helping ensure the fullmission simulators stay current with Germany’s fleet of helicopters, as well as the evolving and

The German Army Aviation School features 12 CAE-built full-mission helicopter simulators.

ever-changing training and mission rehearsal requirements. For example, CAE is performing major upgrades on the two CH-53 simulators in parallel with Eurocopter upgrading Germany’s CH-53 fleet with new avionics, communications systems and other capabilities. In addition, CAE has been upgrading the simulators to support the CAE-developed common database (CDB) architecture.

“The German Army Aviation School at Buckeburg is widely regarding in military circles as one of the world’s largest and most advanced helicopter training centres,” said Ulrich Aderhold, Managing Director of CAE GmbH. “For many years CAE has worked closely with the German Armed Forces to support this world-class facility, and our people are committed to the high-quality service that helps ensure the mission readiness of Germany’s helicopter aircrews.”

Program Spotlight

Canada’s CASE project – progressing the use of modeling and simulation across the Canadian Forces Through the Canadian Advanced Synthetic Environment (CASE) project, the Canadian Forces are striving to create a coordinated modeling and simulation capability to more effectively use resources and facilitate collaboration across all users of simulation, including experimentation centres, training establishments, research facilities, and industry and academic partners serving the Canadian Forces. The CASE project is advancing and implementing common synthetic environment technologies and standards across all components of the Canadian Forces by leveraging simulation technologies to enhance Canada’s modeling and simulation capability for training, exercising, experimentation, and analysis.

Many of the capabilities and technologies that build the foundation of the CASE project have been developed and delivered by CAE’s Professional Services team. CAE has been contracted by the Canadian Forces to provide simulation support services to the CASE project, developing synthetic environments and network infrastructures to support experimentation, mission rehearsal, training exercises, operational and maintenance training, as well as research and development.

Building the Canadian Forces simulation network CAE Professional Services is designing and implementing the infrastructure for a persistent, nation-wide simulation network that will connect simulation technologies hosted at experimentation centres, training establishments, research facilities, and industry and academic partners from across Canada. This network will provide the backbone for running large-scale distributed mission operations training exercises and experiments. It will also support multi-agency and international collaboration as they plan and train for future operations.

mission rehearsal tactics trainer (MRTT) is a reconfigurable, virtual reality-based system to help train crew-coordination and mission rehearsal tasks. The first operational-use configurations of the MRTT system will be for the CH-146 Griffon helicopter to train both flight deck and cabin crews. The system will permit such activities and features as basic voice marshalling, crew resource management for flight engineers, and the interoperable Griffon reconnaissance escort surveillance system (INGRESS) capability. By 2012, the MRTT system will be installed at several bases across Canada.

Enhancing game-based training

In association with the CASE project, the Canadian Forces are enhancing game-based training environments using advanced human behaviour modeling. Working in collaboration with the Canadian Defence Academy, CAE Professional Services is using Bohemia Interactive’s VBS2 serious gaming technology As part of the CASE project, CAE is developing a Mission to develop a flexible platform for training air Rehearsal Tactics Trainer for the Canadian Forces. support and sustainment occupations. The first application of this platform is focused on a desktop training system for air traffic control (ATC). A challenge facing current ATC qualification is the prolonged on-the-job training period required to qualify ATC operators due to the lack of consistent realDeveloping targeted fidelity technologies Client demands are changing how modeling and simulation technology world visual flight rules traffic. The objective of the virtual environment is developed and implemented for analysis, training, and operational is to increase the speed with which trainees gain experience. CAE decision making. Every type of simulation environment and device Professional Services has integrated human behaviour modeling has its purpose along the continuum of application. CAE Professional technology to support the recognition of ATC voice commands to Services is leading the development and exploration of targeted support ATC operator training. fidelity modeling and simulation technologies that leverage existing client commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and government-off-theshelf (GOTS) toolkits and integrate custom-developed, open-source technologies to create customizable, reconfigurable, and modular synthetic environments.

Under the CASE project, CAE is developing crew mission training devices that can be reconfigured to any platform. For example, the

Capabilities Focus

CAE is providing thought leadership, innovation, and technical excellence to evolve the CASE project within the Canadian Forces. The architecture, infrastructure and foundation for creating a comprehensive and coordinated simulation-based synthetic environment is a capability CAE can deliver internationally to militaries and governments looking to expand the use of modeling and simulation.

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News & Notes CAE to provide Canada with CH-147F aircrew training The Government of Canada has awarded CAE a contract valued at approximately C$250 million for a comprehensive CH-147F Chinook helicopter aircrew training solution. The contract was awarded under the program called the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) and is in support of Canada’s new fleet of 15 CH-147F Chinook medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. The contract related to CH-147F training systems and services is divided into two phases. First, during the acquisition phase, CAE will lead the design and development of a CH-147F training suite, which will include: one weapon system trainer (WST), one tactical flight training device (TFTD), one deployable TFTD, one integrated gunnery trainer, laptop and desktopbased CAE Simfinity virtual simulators (VSIM), and courseware. Following delivery of the CH-147F training suite in early 2014, phase two of the contract will commence with CAE leading the in-service support for the CH-147F aircrew training program. During the 20-year in-service support phase, CAE will be responsible for providing a range of training services. CAE is also under contract with the Government of Canada to provide a comprehensive C-130J aircrew training solution as part of the OTSP program.

L-R: Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Marc Parent, President and CEO, CAE.

Upgraded Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 simulators enter service

CAE expands C-130 Tampa Training Center

CAE and the Royal Navy recently held a ceremony to celebrate the entry into service of new and upgraded training devices for the Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 maritime helicopter.

In parallel with the Lynx Mk8 maritime helicopter fleet upgrade, CAE UK plc completed a major upgrade of the CAE-built Lynx Mk8 Full-Mission Simulator (FMS), as well as delivered a new Lynx Cockpit Procedures Trainer (LCPT) and a CAE Simfinity System-Based Trainer (SBT) to the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, UK.

CAE has expanded its C-130 training center located in Tampa, Florida with the addition of a new C-130H full-mission s i m u l a t o r. T h e n e w simulator features Esterline CMC Electronics’ C-130 glass cockpit avionics systems, which CMC offers to global C-130 L-R: John Lenyo and Martin Gagne from CAE joined operators considering Gred Yeldon and Sergio Coletta of Esterline CMC to inaugurate a new C-130H full-mission avionics modernization Electronics simulator at CAE’s C-130 Tampa Training Center. programs for existing C-130 Hercules aircraft. The new simulator features the CAE True™ electric motion system as well as the CAE Medallion™-6000 visual system. CAE’s C-130 Tampa Training Center now includes three C-130E/H reconfigurable full-mission simulators, as well as a C-130E/H flight training device and part-task trainers. The C-130 training center offers comprehensive aircrew and maintenance training in 12 multimedia classrooms to provide complete training for C-130 pilots, flight engineers, loadmasters, and maintenance technicians. CAE is the only company offering independent C-130 training at its training centers in Tampa, Florida and Brussels, Belgium.

“The suite of synthetic training equipment is a very welcome and much needed capability,” said Commander Nigel Amphlett, Royal Navy Commander, Lynx Helicopter Force. “Not only does it enhance the output of the operational conversion unit, it improves the operational effectiveness of the Front Line.”

Chris Stellwag, Editor Lisa Prentiss, Heather Dane, David Graham Birgit Kremer, Contributors April Broomer, Graphic Design Reader feedback and contributions welcome

CAE, 8585 Côte-de-Liesse, St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada H4T 1G6 • milsim@cae.com • cae.com Military Simulation and Training News is a publication of CAE. © 2010 CAE All rights reserved.

NM1022

Training Transformation

Left Fig. 1 – JLVC federation architecture illustrating modularity.

Image credit: USJFCOM JWFC.

March 2010. Available 24/7, this system will enable developers to create and work interactively with other systems and other developers on their own schedules from their own locations. Increased availability of systems and access contributes to overall increased levels of testing. It’s worked to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Information Technology in the private sector and is now ready for the Department of Defense.

The Value of Virtual Labs

Virtualizing M&S: Field Tests to Shape the Future Building a virtual test environment will save time and money in growing the JLVC Federation. Will Crain and Ted Miller explain their project.

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raining warfighters for today’s complex environment involves the precise blending of live people operating real weapon systems, live people operating virtual systems and simulated people operating simulated systems. A federation to manage it all is the final stroke in painting the realistic picture of the battlefield service members will face in their next fight.

United States Joint Forces Command’s (USJFCOM) Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC) in Suffolk, Va. coordinates the US military’s overall joint training efforts. A key capability JWFC employs to support this effort is the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC), which uses realistic, computer-generated battlefield modeling and simulation (M&S) to support joint force training. With M&S, the intent is not to replace actual experience, but to use a more cost-effective method to conduct high-level events more frequently.

A center-piece capability of JNTC is the Joint Live Virtual Constructive (JLVC) Federation, which is composed

of joint and service combat and functional simulations. It’s the architecture that integrates live and virtual simulations to create an environment that provides leaders with battle space awareness and the ability to exercise current and emerging capabilities in a distributed, global exercise setting (see Fig. 1).

In other words, its capabilities support training from the soldier on the ground to the general in the war room.

To further enhance the value of the federation, the JLVC community is embarking in a pilot effort to build a virtual lab management system. While it will be deployed at the JWFC, the virtual lab management system will allow the men and women behind the curtains of the joint and service simulations to conduct system-level and integration testing of new JLVC systems with other JLVC systems without having to travel to the JWFC. JLVC development for this virtual lab management system began in early September 2009. The first major system integration events are scheduled for early

JLVC may be a dynamic capability, but continuous software development and maintenance is required to keep pace with evolving warfighter training requirements. Consequently, development and maintenance of a complex software system like the JLVC federation requires extensive levels of testing.

Without sufficient testing, a delivered capability may not meet the training requirements, or untested software may fail at a critical point or cause other systems to behave improperly, negatively impacting the warfighter. Confirming that a newly developed capability fulfils its intended purpose and establishing a high level of confidence in JLVC federation’s ability to meet warfighter training needs is a paramount objective for JNTC. Reducing the cost of sustaining and developing new JLVC capabilities is a constant challenge. Recently, JWFC has looked to advances in technology to meet this challenge; specifically, at what can be done to reduce the cost of conducting JLVC federation test and integration.

Since the JLVC federation is composed of systems maintained and developed by independent organizations, testing interoperability requires collaborative efforts.

Many ways to accomplish required testing have been employed. However, convening the JLVC development community at a government simulation center to conduct system integration testing is preferred because the systems can be tested in the same environment they will be used in to provide training.

It also provides the opportunity for direct collaboration and interaction. The desire MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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Training Transformation

to maintain this process is strong due to the benefits, but it’s expensive. Including direct costs such as travel and per diem, as well as indirect costs to support and maintain required infrastructure, costs are unsustainable and opportunities to conduct this type of testing are limited.

During a typical JLVC federation integration test event, up to 30 developers may travel to JWFC. Routinely, testing objectives are planned, however, test objectives are not always met.

The JLVC community has been unable to significantly increase the number of test objectives achieved in a single event without extending the duration of an event or through the creation of additional test events. Again, this means more money, making it easier to see the challenge to increase the opportunity and/or frequency of testing while eliminating or reducing the need to travel to a simulation center.

The pilot virtual lab management system should reduce many of those costs. Now, the actual execution and testing of the JLVC federation in a distributed computing environment is not without challenges. Conducting a JLVC event either for training or testing – which can mean integrating up to 30 distributed systems – has historically required the support of technicians outside of the JLVC developer community. The JLVC federation uses the High Level Architecture (HLA) for sharing information about simulated objects, which makes the networking challenge particularly difficult as HLA, as employed by the JLVC federation, relies on multicast network traffic. Ultimately, the solution of a virtual lab management system should enable JLVC developers to create or access test environments on their own in an ad-hoc manner.

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Top Fig. 2 – The virtual lab test environment.

Above Fig. 3 – The Expedient Community of Interest or ECOI Virtual Networking.

Both images: USJFCOM JWFC.

Currently, available commercial off the shelf (COTS) virtualization solutions, in combination with some customer software, are being leveraged to meet challenges and requirements, including the ability to create and manage a new system baseline on demand at remote locations, the capacity to recreate conditions associated with identified deficiencies, support multisimultaneous events and duplicate the JLVC federation execution environment.

Using server virtualization permits system administrators to configure a virtual machine with a complete operating system in accordance with applicable Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and other Information Assurance (IA) and Information Security (IS) guidelines. Once complete, this virtual machine can be placed “on the shelf” ready to be reused on demand. Reuse comes as a software developer makes a copy of one of these “template” virtual machines and installs one or more software applications on the machine. Once installed and properly configured, the application can be tested in isolation or in tandem with other systems to determine the correctness of the installation and the ability of the application to meet designated requirements. After testing, the certified system can also be placed “on the shelf” so that each investment in time and expertise is encapsulated within the virtual machine and made available to be reused.

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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Training Transformation

In both cases, “on the shelf” is synonymous with being placed under configuration management control. Traditionally, configuration management focuses on establishing and maintaining consistency of a system or product’s performance and its functional and physical attributes with its requirements, design, and operational information throughout its life. Consistent reuse is not possible without configuration management. Using server virtualization, the need to correctly duplicate the JLVC execution environment can be met through reuse of previously certified system baselines and template virtual machines. When maintained under configuration management and made available to the JLVC community, these virtual machines make it possible for any version of any system to be used as part of a development or integration test event when it is needed.

How It All Works A virtual lab management solution enables users to create and access virtual environments consisting of one or more virtual machines over the network through their web browser with little if any virtual machine expertise (see Fig. 2). Creating a test environment consisting of several independent systems is as easy as logging onto a website and selecting the required systems with a mouse click.

Virtual machines are provisioned to available servers in the data center and executes in a secure environment.

Execution in this manner is not constrained by the processing limitations of the computer used to access the virtual environment. Virtual machine consoles are displayed within the user’s web browser. Full keyboard and mouse functionality are supported, and the user is able to easily select and move between available consoles. Virtual lab management solutions permit concurrent access by multiple remote users who are capable of provisioning and executing a complete test environment that is unique and completely isolated from other deployments. Virtual lab management also permits users to create new virtual machine configurations either from scratch or by leveraging existing systems. The benefit: knowledge of server virtualization is not required.

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The Next Phase Network connectivity and logical relationships between systems does need to be easy to establish. From the perspective of the user, it just needs to work. This was noticed early on and efforts are in the works to address this need. Virtual networking has long been a valuable tool, but up to this point has been reserved to the domain of the network engineer outside of the reach and capability of the JLVC software developer or tester. A custom software solution is being developed to meet this need.

The Expedient Community of Interest or ECOI Virtual Networking is an application layer solution that would enable users to construct distributed computing environments agnostic to the underlying physical network infrastructure without involving network engineers or technicians (see Fig. 3).

ECOI is a software-based system that makes use of the physical network infrastructure in place and requires no addition, replacement, or reconfiguration of existing network devices. The challenge for ECOI is to enable users to establish dynamic distributed network connectivity under the strictest enclave boundary postures possible without detracting from network administrator’s ability to control, monitor, and maintain the security and efficiency of the network. Once ECOI is delivered, complete distributed environments consisting of both virtual and physical systems will be able to be rapidly provisioned and connected to enable development, testing, or distributed operations. ECOI is a binding

Above Fig. 4 – The new contrasted with the old.

Image credit: USJFCOM JWFC.

element that will deliver the ability to fully construct and operate distributed test environments into the hands of the JLVC community.

The use of tools enables us all to reach farther. Too often, capabilities are limited not merely by constraints or limits in resources, but instead by the ability or inability to use available tools. Doing more with what you have means making the most out of every tool available.

Virtualization is a tool that has already been proven to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of information technology in the private sector. The use case described here may be a bit different, but the objectives are the same. Virtualization is a tool that is ready to be used effectively to get more out of Department of Defense M&S. ms&t About the Authors Will Crain is a contractor with Accenture and is project lead. Ted Miller is a USJFCOM government civilian. He manages the operation and support of all lab spaces and equipment assigned to TDIB, lab budget execution, and the execution of the JNTC System Certification program. He is the current government project lead for this project to apply virtualization technology to optimize the modeling and simulation support for the Joint Training Environment.

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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Training Technology

Leveraging Distributed Simulation Moving beyond theoretical training and wargaming to operational context through distributed simulation. Captain Frank Thieser explains current initiatives within German Army Aviation.

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pportunities for training and exercises for airmobile operations within the entire capability spectrum of Army aviation are limited by a number of factors. Operational challenges and their simulation in training with regard to the environment, threats and doctrine of enemy forces can be simulated in a real flight to a very limited extent only. Furthermore, only a limited number of helicopter training areas and firing ranges are available.

Additionally, the bandwidth of communication and information relations, especially joint and combined, between the soldiers involved ranging from the commander of an airmobile task force down to the aircrew and infantry, as they would exist in a real operation, cannot be simulated without considerable effort.

This situation is even more hampered by the simultaneous fielding of new airborne weapon systems which will not be available for tactical training during the extremely long delivery phase. Moreover, it will take considerable organisational and financial efforts to provide these systems on a regular basis for training purposes.

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Training Philosophy The philosophy of “Train as you fight, fight as you train� has proven to be effective not only in the military context. Significant value is added by using in training the same weapon and command and control systems with which the forces will be confronted during operations.

Theoretical training and wargaming can transfer trainees only to a limited extent into potential future mission scenarios.

In addition, the limited availability of the original systems, environmental constraints, safety provisions and a limited budget allow the application of this philosophy only in a few rare cases.

For this reason, Army Aviation has for years consequently been working on a distributed simulation system to provide the commanders of airmobile operations with adequate training which is not limited to a particular level and ranges from aircrews up to task forces. By means of wide-area networking, Air Manoeuvre Tactical Leadership Training (AMTLT) provides all assets needed to conduct all operational phases.

New Possibilities Until a few years ago, helicopter simula-

Above Operational coordination and supervision is conducted at the Tactical Control Centre.

Image credit: Author.

tor training was purely oriented to the helicopter itself: aircraft handling, system operation and emergency procedures.

During the past few years, however, the rapid increase in the performance of COTS hardware paved the way for new possibilities of simulation which fit in well with operational requirements. Not only aircraft specific functionalities and system behaviour of the aircraft were simulated, but also the behaviour of the natural and man-made environment. In the meantime, the simulation bandwidth ranges with impressive detail and realism from dynamic weather models via computer-generated forces up to thermal image simulation with physically correct material behaviour. The recognition value of the natural and the man-made environment makes it possible to be immersed in the scenario. Therefore, the ratio of simulation-based tactical training can and must be increased through this enabling technology.

Concept In essence, the AMTLT concept describes the synergetic use of existing training assets. Through networking and the consistent application of international standards, the heart of this system consists of flight simulators and command and control systems relevant to Army Aviation. Enemy forces, unknown forces and additional blue forces are simulated by constructive simulation systems (computer-generated forces). Exercise control operates out of a tactical control centre (TCC) with simulation control applications and after-action review (AAR) capabilities.

The decisive added value is in particular generated by AAR, where the entire mission is being recorded. So the sequence, interdependencies and problems of the operation can be demonstrated to training units in a clear and transparent manner.

With this training environment, commanders of airmobile operations can for the first time perform their training in a common scenario shared at all Army Aviation locations at the same time national and international.

Technical Realisation Over the past few years, it has been possible to largely eliminate the technical problems of distributed simulation.

Network infrastructure, bandwidth and the processing power of computers have made significant progress and allow the exchange of data with an acceptable time delay. While in the past several simulation systems had to be moved to a certain location to conduct collective training, deployment is no longer needed these days. Costs and time are the only companions on the road to the full integration of all simulation systems involved in a military scenario.

But it is not yet as easy as has just been described. Simulation systems of different manufacturers (often even simulation systems of a single manufacturer) still have different proprietary formats and interfaces for data exchange. This runs like a central theme through practically all simulator subsystems, for instance the terrain database (out-the-window view and sensor views), the parameterisation and the implementation of doctrines for computer-generated forces, or the external networking interface. Many of the previous efforts to emphasise the added

value of a distributed simulation environment were single events which required an enormous amount of work both by the armed forces and industry. Often a lasting infrastructure with the potential for continuous development was not intended.

The aforementioned integrated simulation system of Army Aviation, on the other hand, is a persistent platform and might turn out to be the start of a broad user community, driven by operational necessity.

The backbone infrastructure is provided via the Bundeswehr Wide Area Network. On top of that, a distributed runtime infrastructure (RTI) based on the high-level architecture (HLA) standard ensures data exchange between the various simulation applications. The entire traffic is encrypted through network components of the Bundeswehr Simulation and Test Environment (SuTBw).

Operational radio communications can be established via Voice over HLA, DIS or even the Voice over IP SIP protocol. CAE has developed a special communication switch to handle this voice traffic. The command post, which is equipped with the German Army Command and Control Information System, is connected via proxy software (C2SimProxy) which is capable of retrieving data from the HLA network and of making it available to the command and control system by means of a situation update. Administrative collaboration services are implemented in addition to the exchange of operational data between the simulators. The distributed air mission briefing for aircrews and command post personnel, for instance, is conducted by means of video conferences, phone, file sharing and application sharing. Operational coordination and supervision is conducted at the Tactical Control Centre of the German Army Aviation School in Bückeburg. At this centre, 3D visualisation applications, command and control systems that indicate the overall situation, audio reproducing systems and data recording systems access the simulation data and display them on large screens. Network monitoring is conducted at the Testing and Evaluation Centre of the Bundeswehr Simulation and Test Environment at Euskirchen.

On this basis, all Army Aviation simulation sites will gradually be networked and will thus provide the prerequisites for integrating all German Army Aviation

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Training Technology

Simulators (four CH-53 medium-transport helicopters, three NH90 light transport helicopters (one Airforce), 12 TIGER attack helicopters and eight EC135 training helicopters) into a joint mission which will be commanded from a real command post.

Integration into Training and Exercises Currently, Army Aviation is gradually integrating AMTLT training into leadership courses at the Army Aviation School. In the scope of these courses, tactical elements are trained in a practically oriented manner, in that an entire airmobile operation is simulated. Apart from planning, the command and control element can now also be practised by means of setting up the real communication chain between command post and weapon systems.

As a first course-based training block, the school is currently developing an Air Mission Commander Course (AMC). This course will comprise the planning and execution of an air assault mission. Here the trainee will have to lead the mission as commander, having at his disposal all the assets (distributed

Above An overview of the German Army Aviation distributed training network.

Image credit: Author.

simulators, C2, etc.) which he would have in real life. The huge benefit is that the effects of decisions will immediately become visible and can consequently be assessed.

Besides the course-based training, the distributed simulation system will be further developed, and the simulation-based rehearsal of tactical procedures will be integrated into the Combat Training Programme. Thus, a platform

for German Air Manoeuvre Brigade 1 is gradually being developed which will permit training of the full spectrum of the brigade’s missions, including missions conducted by the integrated air assault infantry.

The International Defence Training Journal MS&T Magazine has an unrivalled background in the defence simulation and training industry, and has been serving the military community for over 25 years. Target the industry’s key decision makers by choosing to buy advertising in the next issue.

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High-Fidelity Full Flights and Serious Games In order to display the latter, the problem of limited resources and budget becomes even more imminent. The previous activities towards an interoperable simulation environment based on industry standards were here even more beneficial. For air crews, of course, it has been proven that Full Flight Simulators give realistic cues to the pilots, but how to integrate infantry soldiers? After a few discussions a very pragmatic approach was found. How about giving a serious games engine to the infantry and linking that game as an HLA Federate with the Full Flight/Full Mission Simulators? We chose VBS2 (Virtual Battlespace 2 from Bohemia Interactive) as the “window to the infantries’ world”. This serious game provides the infantryman with a desktop environment which enables him to move in the terrain, to use his weapons and to join the chain of communication. The last experiment in November 2009 showed that this solution fulfils all the major requirements concerning communication, situation awareness and decision-making. Furthermore, the great potential for future training in Close Combat Attack (CCA) and Joint Fire Support (JFS) procedures in such a constellation was identified.

Development and Experimentation The potential of the distributed simulation system is not restricted to training and exercises alone. The development risk of new equipment can considerably be reduced by means of experiments and tests in an on-demand distributed simulation environment. All phases of the procurement process can be perfectly supported. There has been intense collaboration with the Bundeswehr Technical Centre for Information Technology (WTD81), the University of Federal Armed Forces in Munich and the Bundeswehr IT Office A5 for several years.

Summary Distributed integrated simulation systems provide a unique opportunity for joint and combined training and for the rehearsal of airmobile operations at all levels. Since future missions will not only be joint and combined, but will also be conducted together with national authorities, civilian relief organisations, international organisations (IOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the consistent application of international standards and an open system architecture are indispensable prerequisites for adapting a distributed simulation architecture to constantly changing conditions. This is the only way to begin with the lowrisk integration of existing simulation systems without putting at risk the future build-up capability or having to determine the final configuration ahead of schedule. In this context, current environmental data will have a key role to play. They must not only be available, they must be used mandatorily in the respective simulation system at short notice. It will not be possible to realise the idea of “on demand” networking without correlated natural and man-made environmental databases based on common industrial standards. ms&t

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About the Author Captain Frank Thieser is the Assistant Chief of Section, Organization, Simulation & Training, Combat Development Division of German Army Aviation. He is responsible for aircrew training requirements and training concepts and aircrew training media procurement projects. He is the Project Manager, German Army Aviation Distributed Training Network.

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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Conference Report

Left LTC (RET) Wolf Rauchalles, General Manager DWT-SGW (left) and BG Klaus F. Veit, Deputy Head of IT-AmtBw (right).

Credit for all: Walter F. Ullrich.

M&S: Resources and Priorities The temper of the times; the real problem is getting future priorities right. Walter F. Ullrich reports on the proceedings of the 9th DWT M&S forum.

T

he Centre for Studies and Conferences (SGW), an affiliate of the renowned German Association for Defence Technology (DWT), has held another symposium on modelling and simulation (M&S) in the German Armed Forces. “Modelling and Simulation – Basis and Opportunity for Future Capabilities of the Armed Forces” was the theme of this year’s forum held on 10 and 11 March in Bonn-Bad Godesberg City Hall.

The event is the ninth in a series of conferences on diverse aspects of simulation. The non-profit DTW recognised the significance of M&S early on. By opening up dialogue within the German modelling, simulation and training community and with potential partners, DWT helped the simulation industry find its place in the mainstream defence business.

The conference was jointly chaired

by Brigadier General Erich Pfeffer, MoD, and Brigadier General Klaus F. Veit, Federal Office for Information Management and Information Technology of the Bundeswehr (IT-AmtBw), dual leadership that illustrates the multiple dovetailing of transformation-related simulation activities and information technology aspects.

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Twenty speakers – officers and civil servants from federal technology and procurement offices and representatives from the defence industry – provided insights into the current and future M&S situation. In his keynote, Colonel (GS) Rolf Barth from the Armed Forces Centre of Transformation reviewed the status quo. As far as training simulation is concerned, the Bundeswehr is well positioned, with the exception of a few shortcomings when it comes to joint training. However, even though it might be less expensive to buy a foreign simulation system – JTLS for instance – the German Armed Forces would insist on a national solution, simply to remain master of the built-in doctrine. For the future Barth requested to abandon proprietary stand-alone solutions in favour of modular standardised systems. And it was also time to give up the illusion that everything could be done, he said.

Dr Jens Woch, IT-AmtBw, described the German Armed Forces Simulation and Test Environment (SuTBw), which will link various simulation systems and simulators independently of location into high-performance simulation system networks for joint transformation experi-

ments. Jens Woch, however, also recalled the limited resources that will require prioritisation. One complete conference session was dedicated to the Distributed and Integrated Test Bed “VIntEL” which will be used as an armament test bed for the evaluation of material and equipment in all phases of the development and procurement cycle. The system demonstrator VIntEL, which builds on the Simulation and Test Environment SuTBw, will lead to more reliable simulation systems and “Fair Fight” conditions, for example the similar treatment of weapon effects in different simulation systems.

Individual projects were then addressed in the course of the two-day event; status and progress reports widened the audience’s level of information, or increased awareness of certain aspects. The talks revealed that some M&S projects in the German Armed Forces need not shy away from international comparison. VIntEL is such a showpiece project, as is Germany’s contribution to the NATO ACT project “Snow Leopard”. But S&T in the Bundeswehr has its shortcomings too. GüZ, the German Army’s Combat Training Centre, suffers from a lack of instrumentation to adequately train operations in urban environments,– today’s standard scenario. But again, as Colonel Barth had quite strikingly said in his keynote: “We can’t do everything!”

For General (Ret) Rainer Schuwirth, chairman of DWT and former Chief of Staff SHAPE, the real problem is about getting future priorities right. For him, M&S is not an end in itself. “We have to identify those areas where we can even better employ modelling and simulation, to make adequate use of existing resources, to create added value for those who finally are operating equipment and procedures,” he argued in his summary.

Most of the 250 experts who attended the forum would agree with him.

The event was accompanied by an exhibition showing M&S-related products and services from antycib, Barco, CAE, e.sigma, ESRI, GPP Service, IABG, MBDA, PRESAGIS, Rheinmetall and tukom. ms&t

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

RC_EP

Š 2010 Rockwell Collins, Inc. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCING THE NEW EPÂŽ-8000. Every day, pilots and soldiers around the world rely on Rockwell Collins to help them prepare for their toughest missions. Through the advanced technologies of the EP-8000 they can experience unsurpassed visual realism in a training environment. All made possible by a programmable graphics pipeline that is scalable and adaptable to meet the most complex requirements now and in the future.

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Show Preview

ITEC 2010 Back in London, treading on expanded ground. Walter F. Ullrich previews.

E

xCeL London, the impressive exhibition centre at the Royal Victoria Dock, will once again be the venue for ITEC – Europe’s largest and most established defence training and simulation conference and exhibition. From 18 to 20 May 2010, ITEC will be a rallying point for the international simulation and training community, for expert insight into the opportunities and challenges driving developments in industry and for hands-on experience of new and proven solutions from the big S&T players and niche suppliers. The three-day ITEC Conference will cover a comprehensive array of subjects, including training solutions, systems, methodologies and procurement.

“This year’s conference introduces eight new themes, including current engaging topics such as counter IED training. The quality of papers has been outstanding, no one involved in military and civic training can afford to miss this conference,” says Anne O’Reilly, ITEC 2010 Conference Chair. Lieutenant General Paul Newton, British Army, 38

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

who was appointed Commander Force Development and Training in April 2010, will give a keynote address on “Training with Partners for Successful Operations”.

At the time of going to press, the following prominent speakers were listed on the Senior Officer’s Panel: Rear Admiral Chris Snow (Senior Host), Flag Officer Sea Training and Rear Admiral Surface Ships, Royal Navy, UK; Rear Admiral Joseph F. Kilkenny, Commander, Naval Education and Training Command, US Navy, United States; Brigadier General Volker Barth, Deputy Commander Armed Forces Office, Commander Bundeswehr Schools and Director of Joint Training, Germany; and Mr Richard R. Yuse, President, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), United States.

ITEC 2010 will deliver more military speakers than ever before and give delegates exceptional learning opportunities in workshops focusing on training needs analysis. New conference themes and highlights for 2010 are: counter improvised explosive devises training, cyber defence, developing a collective train-

Above The number of exhibitors has not changed much compared to the 2009 event in Brussels.

Image credit: Walter F. Ullrich.

ing needs analysis methodology, nextgeneration warfighter, modelling cities in the virtual world environment, simulation & training for medical and casualty handling, and training the generation spectrum. Special events will include a half-day seminar on training and simulation for civic emergencies, and security cooperation initiative presentation, which will address current collaboration projects and the prominent role of S&T in that process.

The number of exhibitors has not changed much in comparison to 2009.

Apart from the Swiss RUAG, which has not attended ITEC since 2008, all the important companies – European as well as North American – will be in London.

Making their début at ITEC 2010 will be Fidelity Technologies, which will demon-

strate its Artillery Forward Observer and Forward Air Controller Trainer, and szenaris, which will showcase VR simulations for training with robots in counter IED. There will again be Innovation Showcases, which provide unique occasions for exhibiting companies to announce new products and services, as well as being an exclusive source of information, of which, unfortunately, far too little use is made. Lockheed Martin will discuss and demonstrate the current “Art of the Possible” using game-based technologies. Cogent 3D will present the GenesisRTX, the first of a new generation of simulation ‘dynamic construction’ technologies. Antycip will showcase MyBehaviour, a behaviour authoring software that allows the quick creation of military doctrines in simulation application. Alelo will present an integrated suite of training capabilities that help learners to quickly develop the language and cultural skills necessary for overseas operations.

Cobham will show developments that are enabling higher levels of training realism, resulting in improved air support to joint training and readiness. Presagis will be showcasing applications based on AERIA, the company’s COTS technology vision.

MÄK will be showing VR-Vantage XR, a hybrid 2D/3D view that provides a Common Operating Picture of the battlefield.

With this latest release MÄK will be continuing to make improvements to terrain agility and interoperability with host simulation systems. In the Alion booth, MÄK will be demonstrating Battle Command, a desktop tactics trainer. Alion has used this staff level trainer successfully as a component of training for several Eastern European nations including, most recently, an implementation in Latvia.

So, everything is set for a perfect ITEC in London – before it heads back to Cologne, Germany in 2011. ms&t

Welcome from the Conference Chair to MS&T readers

This year’s ITEC conference will prove to be one of the most exciting ever. There is a strong emphasis on support to current operations and we expect a much increased attendance by the military. We have new themes such as simulation for the medical environments and cyber warfare.

On Wednesday there is a special conference on Civic Emergencies with three presentations from the customer community. I am really proud of the work the Committee has achieved and looking forward very much to ITEC. Anne O’Reilly, ITEC 2010 Conference Chair Managing Director, Mabway, UK

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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world news & analysis

Seen&Heard Edited by Lori Ponoroff.

For daily breaking S&T news - go to www.halldale.com.

UPGRADED ROYAL NAVY LYNX SIMS ENTER SERVICE CAE UK plc completed a major upgrade of the Royal Navy’s CAE-built Lynx Mk8 Full-Mission Simulator, and delivered a new Lynx Cockpit Procedures Trainer and a CAE Simfinity System-Based Trainer to the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, UK. The simulator upgrade meets the Defence Equipment and Support Flight Simulator and Synthetic Training (FsAST) Project Team requirement to incorporate the second generation anti-jamming tactical UHF radio for NATO (called SATURN), replacement of the central tactical system, the new Successor Identification Friend or Foe (SIFF) system and the latest Defensive Aid Suite into the training devices.

AVATARS FOR ARMY TRAINING

Above The Royal Navy’s CAE Simfinity Lynx cockpit procedures trainer.

Image credit: CAE.

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Virtual, Interactive, Collaborative, Training, Resource/Environment (VICTR/E) laboratory is revolutionizing U.S. Army training with its use of avatars. The company created the lab, located in Huntsville, Ala., as part of its pursuit of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) contract.

Northrop Grumman developed the VICTR/E lab using the Army’s capability development document for IAMD, which follows the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System procedure and ensures the implementation of capabilities-based

requirements defined by combatant commanders. The lab simulates air battle scenarios for warfighter training. The lab also uses avatars, or three-dimensional computer representations of humans, to train soldiers.

The avatars - which move and talk - interact with the soldiers in a scripted, life-like battle or air battle environment.

The virtual reality realm allows one or two soldiers to train with an entire battle staff. While the lab started with only scripted scenarios, the Northrop Grumman team has since developed “live” avatars that allow for unscripted training exercises.

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AEGIS UAS EMBEDDED TRAINING SOLUTIONS The AEgis Technologies Group delivered a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) embedded training solution to the US Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) that will help the unit prepare for its upcoming deployment. Aegis worked with AeroVironment, Inc. to develop a mission planning and operator training solution for AV’s Raven, Puma, and Wasp Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The Visualization and Mission Planning Integrated Rehearsal Environment (VAMPIRE) is an embedded training capability hosted on already-fielded equipment (e.g., no additional hardware requirements) and allows operators to train and rehearse operator and mission-level tasks for AV’s Family of SUAS.

PRIME FOR AUSTRALIAN JCTC Calytrix Technologies was selected as the prime contractor to deliver system support to the Australian military’s Joint Combined Training Capability (JCTC). Calytrix will manage technical and administrative aspects, network development and support, simulation systems development, integration and support as well as exercise surge support. Calytrix will also work on Talisman Saber, a biennial joint Australia-U.S. military exercise that began in 2001 and takes place mainly at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in central Queensland. About 8,000 Australian and 16,500 U.S. troops from the U.S. Pacific Command took part in the two-week Talisman Saber 2009 last July and included participation by the USS Essex.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN AWARDED U.S. ARMY JOINT FIRES TRAINING CONTRACT Northrop Grumman Corporation is part of a team that was awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to provide training development, instruction and analysis to artillery observers and electronic warfare specialists at the Joint Fires Center of Excellence (COE) in Fort Sill, Okla. Northrop Grumman Technical Services is a subcontractor to Potawatomi Training LLC, for the program contract that could be worth more than $250 million over five years.

The Joint Fires COE provides training to all the military services emphasizing planning, coordinating and executing fires support in a joint operations environment. Northrop Grumman will provide training, training development and training analysis for joint fires courses at the COE.

$21M SUPPORT CONTRACT WITH BRITISH ARMY Saab signed a $21 million contract with the British Army for maintenance and support of its training systems. The contract is an extension of existing support contract and enables the British Army combat training in UK, Canada and Germany. Saab will provide the service for two years with options to extend.

AVISA AUTHORIZED AS APPROVED LEARNING PROVIDER AVISA Aviation Safety Systems got authorized as a Ministry of Defence (“MoD”) Approved Learning Provider under the Enhanced Learning Credits (“ELC”) scheme and can now give two CAA International training courses to ELC funded learners.

To achieve this status, AVISA underwent a rigorous application process of several months, proving their operations and training facilities meet MoD requirements.

ESP WINS $9M FTSS II TASK ORDER Engineering Support Personnel, Inc. (ESP) won a $9 million Diversified Aircrew Readiness Training System (DARTS) and AllSensor Advanced Analysis Training (AAAT) task order under the United States Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWC/TSD) Fielded Training Systems Support (FTSS II) Contract.

ESP will provide Contract Instruction Services (CIS) for classroom, on-trainer, and on-board aircraft training in sensor-related and war-fighting skills critical to United States Navy fleet readiness for five years.

VT GROUP WINS ARMY AVIATION MATERIEL READINESS AWARDS VT Group and its sub contractor, Dale Technical Services (DTS), Inc, won two prestigious awards from the Army Aviation Association of North America. The first award is the national Army Aviation Materiel Readiness Award for contributions by an Industry Team and the second is for contributions by a Major Contractor, for exemplary contributions to the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), and for logistical support and operational readiness of Army Aviation. Three VT Group employees also won top individual contributor awards.

COFT-SA TURRET CREW STATIONS Cubic Corporation’s Simulation Systems Division won close to $13 million in contracts to design and manufacture turret crew stations for a new virtual trainer that simulates the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Cubic’s Simulation Systems Division will begin supplying hardware for 24 fixed turret structures for a Bradley Conduct of Fire Trainer – Situational Awareness (COFT-SA) gunnery trainer to prime contractor Oasis Advanced Engineering Deliveries in May 2011.

Under contract to PEO STRI, Oasis has options to deliver as many as 114 systems to train National Guard soldiers on critical combat gunnery skills over four years.

Cut Costs with COTS At Antycip Simulation, we believe that our customers can reduce their development costs with the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies.

Over the past 15 years, we have built a strong portfolio of Open Standards based COTS toolkits. Our mission is to help our customers successfully design, build and deliver, flexible and reusable systems, with open architectures that are capable of incorporating both current and future technologies.

Visit us at ITEC 2010, Booths #G140 & #H140

MICRO SYSTEMS RF SIMULATOR CONTRACT Herley Industries, Inc.’s subsidiary Micro Systems won a government contract worth more than $1.3 million to supply a dual channel DRFM based Target and ECM Simulator to support sophisticated radar testing operations for the U.S. Navy.

www.antycipsimulation.com

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world news & analysis

Military Flying Training Conference The 9th Defence IQ Military Flying Training Conference took place in London 24/25 February. Against a global backdrop of economic woe and concomitant pressure on defence budgets, the perennial demand for ‘more from less’ has never been more evident.

An impressive line-up of speakers from the military, industry and associated research organisations offered solutions, most medium- and long-term, but some addressing the immediate problems generated by ageing equipment, funding shortfalls and the high tempo of operational commitments to which many of the nations represented are subject. Examples of the latter were joint training programmes, the restructuring of syllabi to match operational needs, and the training of non-aircrew to fly UAVs. So what did the participants see as the drivers which demand action, the enablers which provide potential solutions, and the debates generated by countering one with the other? First, budgetary constraints resulting from the economic downturn, and ongoing operations result in immense pressure on both operational and formal training systems. Second, training resources are scarce because assets are finite, and what is being used for training cannot also be deployed on operations. Third, the pace of technological advance ensures that any neglect of training in order to fund the front line will rapidly translate into a ‘training capability gap’ which can rapidly become unmanageable. The T-38, 50 years old but required to train pilots for the F-22 and JSF, is an example. Fourth, the proliferation of RPVs places additional requirements, for both pilots and sensor operators, on an already straitened aircrew training system. Last, but increasingly not least, there is environmental pressure to reduce live flying.

Turning to the enablers, perhaps the most effective in neutralising the training gap are the progressive ability of successive generations of trainees to assimilate and manage information, and the concurrent improvement in the fidelity, reliability and cost-effec-

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tiveness of synthetic training aids.

Secondly, as military resources and, in some areas, expertise, have diminished, partnerships with industry have proved beneficial and will increasingly become the norm. Lastly, cometh the hour, cometh the idea. Tough times spawn innovation and ‘thinking outside the box’.

And so to the debates. Unsurprisingly, a recurring theme was simulation versus live training, not only because simulation is cost-effective, available, and environmentally friendly, but also because innovation can be implemented more quickly – what is available in synthetic training tomorrow may not be achievable in the air for years. But how realistic can you make synthetic training? Particularly, can it replicate the fear/adrenaline of the real thing? One speaker reported that Disney World claims to have perfected ‘suspension of disbelief’. Since this requires at least a measure of co-operation from the subject, and aircrew are notoriously obtuse, I have my doubts. What is the irreducible minimum? USAF C-17 training now consists of 26 simulator missions, 3 live flights and a check ride. US Navy multi-place rear-crew training will shortly be all-synthetic.

How best, then, to invest scarce resources? The emergent generation of trainees are regarded as ‘digital natives’, their immediate predecessors as ‘digital immigrants’, and people like me as ‘digital retards’. The problem is that the age gap between the trainee and the decision-maker remains constant, but the exponential pace of change translates this into a widening rift. However, as industry admits, some technology adds value and some is ‘just for show’. If the decision-makers get younger, will they have the experience to know the difference?

While revolutionary ideas were in limited supply at MFTC 2010, it was nonetheless an instructive meeting of like minds sharing some palliative and inventive solutions to the common conundrum of too much to do and too little to do it with. – Dim Jones

WATCHKEEPER UAS SUPPORT The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded Thales UK the initial three-year support contract for the Watchkeeper unmanned air system (UAS) program, for which Thales UK is prime systems integrator. The Watchkeeper system is Europe’s largest UAS program, and will provide enhanced all-weather, dual-sensor multi-mission and image-exploitation, and dissemination capability for the UK armed forces.

The Watchkeeper support solution will be a performance-based contractor logistics support (CLS) service, providing spares and repairs, technical support and the availability of the Watchkeeper training facility. Thales will deliver this service with the support of its key partners and supply chain.

HAWK SIMULATOR TO RAF VALLEY Ascent Flight Training, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and VT plc, handed over the first flight training device (FTD) to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in Anglesey, Wales. The device is part of the Ground Based Training Environment element of Ascent’s Advanced Jet Training (AJT) service contract; it is the first of five key deliveries on the AJT program and will eventually be used in the UK Military Flying Training System. Designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support (STS), the simulator replicates the Hawk-T Mk 2 aircraft and offers an initial training capability for early conversion of pilots to the Hawk-T Mk 2.

VIDEO TRACKERS FOR AVCATT UPGRADE GE Intelligent Platforms received a $1.7 million order from Link Simulation and Training for a number of GE ADEPT74 real-time video tracker processing boards that will be used as a major element in the U.S. Army’s AVCATT (Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer) AH-64D simulation and training system upgrade program.

The GE Intelligent Platforms ADEPT74 is an automatic video tracker and image processor that can take the input of high-speed digital data directly from electro-optical sensors. AVCATT is a mobile and reconfigurable virtual simulation system designed to support unit collective and combined arms training.

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CUBIC SECURITY TRAINING INSTITUTE Cubic Corporation’s Simulation Systems Division opened the Cubic Security & Enforcement Training Institute, or CSENTRI, a new instrumented training facility and live-fire range for military, law enforcement and security personnel in Orlando, Florida. The multi-building facility can be rented by law enforcement, military and security organizations to practice tactical scenarios and marksmanship.

The facility has an indoor live-fire pistol range, an area for live judgmental “shoot-don’t shoot” training and a Defensive Tactics training room with padded floors and walls for practicing the physical self-defense skills required in tactical situation. It also has an instrumented urban operations training area with a rappelling tower and Cubic’s Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) that helps users hone their skills in marksmanship and collective and judgmental training.

ISRAELI PFI “SNUNIT” TRAINER PROGRAM FOLLOW ON Elbit Systems Ltd. won a follow-on contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense to continue operating the trainers for the GROB G-120-AI (“Snunit”) trainer aircraft operation program at the Air Force Flight Academy in Hatzerim. Under the new $20 million contract, Elbit Systems will operate the trainers for ten more years when current contract ends in 2012.

The “Snunit” program was the IAF’s first Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project. Under the multi-year program, the IAF purchases training hours onboard Elbit Systems’ GROB G-120-AI, and Elbit Systems is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, which is performed by a dedicated technical crew Elbit Systems employs in Southern Israel.

Operating Helicopters Safely in a Degraded Visual Environment Wednesday 16 – Thursday 17 June 2010 No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK

www.aerosociety.com/conference Sponsored by:

MS&T MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2/2010

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Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) delivered the first four Beechcraft T-6A military trainer aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force from a contract HBC won last year for 15 trainer aircraft. The contract represents a government-to-government agreement between Iraq and the United States; the remaining aircraft will be delivered in the first and fourth quarters of 2010.

In addition to the aircraft, the contract also includes ground based training systems, spares, contract logistics support, maintenance, post production support and technical publications.

SPANISH ARMY SELECTS OPEN ARCHITECTURE PRODUCT SUITE The Spanish Army will use Antycip Simulation’s Open Architecture Product Suite as a backbone framework to construct its next generation of live, virtual and constructive training solutions. This suite includes VT MÄK’s (MÄK) leading Computer Generated Forces (CGF), VR-Forces; MÄK’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution, B-HAVE; and Scalable Network Technologies’s QualNet. It also has Antycip Simulation’s recently launched forefront doctrines generation solution, MyBehaviour, a behaviour authoring software product designed to help training and simulation organisations quickly generate military doctrines in their simulation applications.

NEW TRAINING BRINGS REALITY TO VIRTUAL WORLDS The U.S. Army’s, newest virtual training device The Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer (RVTT) is open for business to U.S. Army Europe Soldiers at the Grafenwoehr Training Area.

The RVTT surrounds soldiers in a realistic, 360-degree virtual world, according to David Darnall, Soldier Program Manager for the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC).

The trainer consists of four trailers, two of which have lifesize replica HMMWVs surrounded by floor-to-ceiling movie screens. A third trailer provides command and control capabilities and a fourth powers the whole system. A fifth trailer contains spare parts - such as extra weapons or vehicle pieces - that allow units to reconfigure the simulators to meet their training needs and the system can accommodate a whole platoon training simultaneously on the same mission.

PENNANT GETS VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINER CONTRACT WITH RAF Pennant International Group plc, signed a €300,000 contract with the Flight Simulation and Synthetic Trainers Project Team (FsAST PT) to design, manufacture, install and support eight Virtual Reality Parachute Trainers (VRPTs) for the Parachute Training School (PTS) at RAF Brize Norton.

The VRPT will be an immersive training aid that gives students a real-time experience in a virtual world that simulates free fall or static line parachute descents. It will allow students to practice parachuting and malfunction skills in a safe, realistic virtual environment and instructors to control environmental conditions (time of day, weather conditions), inject malfunctions, monitor a student’s jump and debrief using digital capture.

The Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) poses a substantial threat to the whole spectrum of helicopter operations. The impact of dusk, night and dawn light levels, low cloud, mist and fog, together with falling and recirculating sand and snow has always eroded operating safety margins.

It is timely to review how best procedures, training, regulation and technology can mitigate or remove this type of risk from future helicopter operations.

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HBC DELIVERS T-6A TRAINER AIRCRAFT TO IRAQI AF

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Aerial Target Drones 20th - 21st September 2010 Le Meridien Piccadilly, London, UK www.defenceiq.com Infantry Weapons 20th - 21st September 2010 Kensington Close Hotel, London www.defenceiq.com Close Air Support 21st - 22nd September 2010 Le Meridien Piccadilly, London, UK www.closeairsupport.co.uk Cyber Security 22nd - 23rd September 2010 Hotel La Plaza, Brussels, Belgium www.internationalcybersec.com Joint Simulation & Training 27th - 28th September 2010 Le Meridien Piccadilly, London, UK www.jointsimulationandtraining.com Offshore Patrol Vessels 27th - 30th September 2010 Cadiz Conference Centre, Cadiz, Spain www.offshorepatrolvessels.com 8th Annual Maritime Reconnaissance & Surveillance 28th - 29th September 2010 Sheraton Roma Hotel & CC, Rome, Italy www.maritimerecon.com Airborne Electronic Warfare 2010 28th - 29th September 2010 CCT Smithfield, London, UK www.electronic-warfare.co.uk Submarine Operations & Requirements 2010 30th September - 1st October 2010 CCT Smithfield, London, UK www.submarineconference.com

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world news & analysis

SPECIAL OPS TRAINING TASK ORDER Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) won a contract to provide technical and training support to the U.S. Navy Surface Warfare’s Special Operating Forces (SOF), and other DoD Agencies.

The follow-on task order with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) - Crane Division will be worth $37 million if all the options are exercised. Under the task order, SAIC will continue to provide the NSWC’s Joint Forces and Support Branch with a wide-range of technical and training support for SOF programs and will also develop, coordinate, conduct, and monitor logistical requirements.

EMBRAER CHOOSES VR-VANTAGE Embraer selected VT MÄK’s new 3D visual solution, VR-Vantage, as part of its Mission Planning Station (MPS) and Mission Debriefing Station (MDS) that will support pilots on the Super Tucano aircraft operation. MÄK will also provide product customization of new features that will be integrated into future releases of the product.

The MPS uses the 3D visuals to rehearse planned missions and to check intervisibility between aircraft and from aircraft and other entities and employs

real aircraft data to playback missions for review and analysis. The VR-Vantage 3D visualization solution consists of the next generation MÄK Stealth, MÄK’s 3D information station; Vantage IG, a desktop image generator for viewing out-thewindow scenes; and the VR-Vantage toolkit to extend the included visual applications or build new applications.

Training Systems (CTS) including engineering, integration, exercise and experimentation support, gaming, materiel purchases, maintenance, supply support and post-fielding support to PEO STRI and the Project Manager for Constructive Simulations (PM ConSim).

SAF DRIVER TRAINING

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is building a Medical Simulation Center for Excellence at the new Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, currently under construction. The Medical Simulation Center will be the nationwide training and planning home for the Simulated Learning Enhancement and Advanced Research Network (SimLEARN), the VA’s new medical simulation system that will help the VA improve care and treatment for veterans across the country.

The 35,000 square-foot Orlando facility will bring physicians and other medical professionals from throughout the country to train in the latest medical simulation technology such as surgical robotics and simulated patients. It is scheduled to open in December 2011; however, temporary space at the current Orlando VA Medical Center will be used to support the SimLEARN mission in the interim.

ST Engineering won a six-year contract worth S$87 million to provide driver training for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The unit ST Kinetics Driver Training Centre will provide basic riding, driving, and upgrading courses and will conduct advanced and continuation courses.

PEO STRI TRAINING SUPPORT CONTRACT General Dynamics’ Information Technology business unit won a PEO STRI contract for Constructive Training Systems support. The total potential value of the contract is $387 million if all options are exercised. The initial award value is $56 million for the base year General Dynamics will provide technical, management and professional engineering support services for the procurement and fielding of Constructive

NEW U.S. MEDICAL SIMULATION CENTER

60th Anniversary, Team Orlando Celebrates Team Orlando celebrated the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was the foundation of the National Center of Excellence for modeling and simulation and reponsibility for nearly $4 billion annually in the procurement for US service training products. The March 19, 1950 MOU, for the cooperative joint evaluation, research and development of training devices was signed by the Secretaries of the Navy and Army, and was commemorated on that day this year in a ceremony at Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division’s (NAWCTSD) outdoor annex in Central Florida Research Park.

“Sixty years ago, a seed in the form of an MOU between the Navy and the Army that was planted in Port Washington, New York to send Navy and Army Participation Group personnel to the Navy Special Device Center, NAWCTSD’s predecessor, has led to the phenomenal team 46

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that we have today,” said NAWCTSD Commander Captain Harry “Smokey” Robinson at the event. “Those pioneers understood the importance of the work they were doing to train the Warfighters of their day.”

During the mid-1960’s, that core group moved to Orlando’s Naval Training Center to join an existing Army training agency, which today is the Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). In 1988, they moved to the thenfledgling Central Florida Research Park near the University of Central Florida (UCF).

During the ceremony, some of the personnel who had been employees at the Center since the beginning reflected on how the technology employed for training systems has advanced. One early problem described was that flight simulators driven by analog comput-

ers and early graphics generators could not be made to simulate landings. During those early times, much work was conducted converting punch-card programmed analog computing devices to digital.

Since that time, more than 160 contracting companies, governmental agencies and organizations and academia, many in residence in the park, have joined Team Orlando. Other military and government agencies in residence include the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS), the Marine Corps Product Manager for Training Systems (PMTRASYS), a Coast Guard training office, the Joint Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Co-Lab, the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The major academic partner is UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). – Chuck Weirauch

world news & analysis

BOEING CONNECTS FIRST F-22 MISSION TRAINING CENTER TO USAF NETWORK

LINK ATC ACADEMY APPROVED FOR FUNDING TO ASSIST VETERANS

Boeing connected the F-22 Mission Training Center (MTC) at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to the U.S. Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON), allowing F-22 pilots at the base to train virtually with pilots in other aircraft platforms for the first time. The MTC at Langley is the first of four F-22 training centers that Boeing will link to the network over the next three years.

The Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) configuration lets MTC sites connect with one another via the DMON, increasing the scale and improving the accuracy of training operations. Connecting the four-seat F-22 MTC flight trainer to the DMON also provides F-22 pilots with more realistic training with other Air Force assets on the network, such as the F-15C MTC.

The Link Simulation & Training Air Traffic Control Academy was approved by the U.S. Veterans Administration to receive Chapter 31 funding for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities that will pay the entire cost of their tuition.

Students who attend the academy at the North Texas Regional Airport (NTRA) undergo an intensive 10-month training period that includes classroom instruction, simulation-based training and on-the-job experience in NTRA’s air traffic control tower. Successful students undergo a control tower operator evaluation by the Federal Aviation Administration within the NTRA tower and those who pass the evaluation and meet FAA hiring requirements become candidates for control tower operator positions throughout the United States.

FORTERRA SYSTEMS ACQUIRED BY SAIC

GERMAN ARMED FORCES CONTRACTS

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) acquired Forterra Systems as part of a plan to enter the virtual technologies market.

SAIC sees acquiring Forterra as an aggressive way to go after the opportunity presented by the growth in virtual world technologies in supporting collaboration and training/learning. It believes Forterra has the best technology and business model to match key customer requirements and that it was addressing synergistic markets.

SAIC will continue development and the commercial sale of the OLIVE platform in the public sector and in commercial, enterprise markets and will absorb Forterra personnel and the OLIVE product line into its Analysis, Simulations, Systems Engineering and Training (ASSET) Business Unit based in Orlando, FL.

CAE has won a series of military contracts worth more than C$58 million, including several contracts to support the German armed forces with a range of simulator upgrades and training support services.

Germany’s procurement office BWB (Bundesamt fur Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung) contracted CAE to provide a range of on-site training support services for flight simulation equipment and perform significant upgrades on the German Air Force Tornado full-mission simulators. CAE will integrate its CAE STRIVE-Radar simulation software into the Tornado simulators so the German Air Force will be able to perform additional training tasks in the full-mission simulators, including air-to-air radar, ground mapping radar, and terrain following radar functionalities.

WARSIM DEBUT IN US/SOUTH KOREAN EXERCISE

Spring Flight Simulation Group Conference Flight Simulation Technology: Future Potential Wednesday 9 – Thursday 10 June 2010 No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK The Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Simulation Group Conferences are both well established and highly successful.

In 2010, it will be 40 years since the first such international symposium. To mark that anniversary, a special Conference will be held to examine the latest flight simulation technology, consider trends, define the challenges and review future opportunities.

CHRISTIE WINS CANADIAN INNOVATION AWARD FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY Christie’s Matrix StIM™ Simulation Projection System was recognized for innovative excellence when it won the National Research Council/Industrial Research Program’s (NRC-IRAP) Canadian Innovation Award for New Technology at the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ (CME) innovation awards. The award honored Christie’s development of the world’s first lightemitting diode (LED) driven DLP® simulation projection system, the Christie Matrix StIM™.

The LED-based simulation projector can render visible and infrared images independently at the same time. The infrared signatures stimulate actual Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), responding just as they would in the real world, so users can see both

The Conference will begin with a session reviewing that first international symposium and discussing progress over the past 40 years – expectations dashed and expectations fulfilled. Subsequent sessions will discuss modelling, visual and motion cueing requirements, environmental representation, simulator testing and maintenance, mission simulation & training and interoperability.

www.aerosociety.com/conference Sponsored by:

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672_RAeS_SpringFlightSim_qrt_ad_1 1

Lockheed Martin’s Warfighters’ Simulation (WARSIM) program delivered realistic division Warfighter results during its debut in a recent command post exercise conducted by the U.S. Army’s Second Infantry Division (2ID) and the Republic of Korea Army.

The simulation program is designed to integrate simulations into the Army’s training, and in this case, allowed battle commanders, battle staffs, and other units in South Korea, to participate in a training scenario simultaneously with the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and its Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, Va. More than 200 U.S. and Korean role-players participated in the exercise, using WARSIM to execute orders of commanders at the brigade and division level.

5/2/10 09:37:46

visible and infrared images independently at the same time.

U.S. NAVY PROTOTYPE SUBMARINE BRIDGE TRAINER Barco N.V. installed an 18-projector display system for the US Navy’s prototype Submarine Bridge Trainer (SBT) program being developed at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWCDIVNPT) in Newport, Rhode Island. The SBT system uses Barco’s SIM 5 projectors to simulate the view from atop the submarine’s flying bridge or sail. This immersive environment enables up to eight trainees and one instructor to conduct predeployment and mooring training, assess operational performance, and improve the crew’s overall operational safety and effectiveness.

Source imagery for the system, including visual models of vessels, is derived from existing US Navy harbor, piloting and navigational databases. A final decision on whether to proceed with a full development and delivery program for an SBT for all submarine home ports will be decided by the Chief of Naval Operations in the early summer of 2010.

F-16 MISSION TRAINING CONTRACT OPTION

HELICOPTER NEWS AUSTRALIA BUYS HELICOPTERS & SIMULATORS FROM US ARMY Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) signed a $467 million contract with the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command for seven CH-47F Chinook helicopters, two Simulators and associated spares. The aircraft will replace six CH-47D Chinooks, with the first two aircraft planned to enter service in 2014, and all seven in service by 2017.

BANGLADESH NAVY ORDERS TWO AW109 POWERS AgustaWestland won a contract for two AW109 Power maritime helicopters and an associated training package for delivery in 2011. The helicopters will be capable of being operated from the frigate BNS Bangabandhu and will be used for a wide range of naval missions including search and rescue, economic zone protection, surface surveillance and maritime security. The training package will include VFR/IFR conversion for aircrew, initial operational maritime training using an AW109 Power Level-D flight simulator and training for maintenance engineers.

The AW109 Power is a 3 ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW206C engines with FADEC.

tem trainer (WST), tactical flight training device (TFTD), deployable TFTD, and integrated gunnery trainer, as well as laptop and desktop-based CAE Simfinity virtual simulators (VSIM) and courseware. Phase one is scheduled for delivery in early 2014.

Then, in the 20-year in-service support phase, CAE will lead the in-service support for the CH147F aircrew training program and will be responsible for providing a range of training services, including training device upgrades and maintenance, hardware and software engineering, courseware updates, technology insertion and obsolescence management, and database modelling and generation.

DiSTI & ESG WIN SEALYNX CONTRACT WITH GERMAN ARMY DiSTI won a contract to develop an MK88A Cockpit Procedure Trainer (CPT) Instrumentation and Instructor Operator Station for ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH. ESG will use DiSTI’s operator station in the SeaLynx MK88A Helicopter CPT it is building for the German Navy. DiSTI will design graphical, interactive touch screen displays for the CPT with its GL Studio.

L-3 Communications’ Link Simulation & Training division won a $20.9 million contract option on the F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC) program from the Aeronautical Systems Center’s Training Systems Product Group at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, bringing the total program contract value to $109.1 million.

The new option calls for L-3 Link to build and deliver an F-16 MTC suite with four high-definition simulators and marks the company’s second four-ship F-16 MTC sale to the U.S. Air Force.

The Boeing Company will provide the instructor/operator stations and brief/ debrief systems.

INDIAN AF SIGNS €560M CONTRACT WITH AUGSTA WESTLAND

FIRST INTEGRATED HELICOPTER CREW MEMBER SIMULATORS FOR U.S. ARMY

Agusta Westland sold 12 AW101 helicopters to the Government of India for government transport. The €560 million contract includes a five-year logistic support service and initial aircrew and technician training.

Giuseppe Orsi, CEO, AgustaWestland said the order is part of a significant and growing presence in both the military and commercial markets and confirms the company’s expansion strategy in India.

SMALL ARMS TRAINERS TO SAUDI NATIONAL GUARD

CANADIAN CH147F AIRCREW TRAINING

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) won a delivery order to develop the first integrated helicopter crew member simulators under the Nonrated Crew Member Manned Module (NCM3) program from PEO STRI. The 28 month base contract has an option for a second variation that, if exercised, would bring the total contract to more than $12 million.

The NCM3 is a transportable, multistation, virtual simulation device designed to support individual, crew and collective training. The NCM3 simulators for CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters will integrate with the Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) simulators.

SAIC will design, develop, integrate, test, deliver and maintain two mobile variants equipped with helicopter crew member simulator modules to support gunnery and crew coordination training.

Cubic Corporation’s Simulation System Division won a $30 million contract to supply small arms training systems to Saudi Arabia. Cubic will provide its EST 2000 Engagement Skills Trainer to the Saudi Arabian National Guard under a contract from PEO STRI. It is Cubic’s largest contract to date with a foreign customer for the trainer.

The Government of Canada awarded CAE a C$250 million contract for a comprehensive CH147F Chinook helicopter aircrew training solution.

During the first phase of the two phase contract, CAE will lead the design and development of a CH147F training suite that will include one weapon sys-

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world news & analysis

NEW COMMON DRIVER TRAINER TANK VARIANT SAIC introduced its new Common Driver Trainer (CDT) variants for the Abrams Main Battle Tank M1A1 /M1A2 (CDT/ TV) that give the rough, realistic experience of the physics, dynamics and operation of the actual heavy tracked combat tank. They represent the form, fit, and function of the tank cabins and have the same instrument panel components and digital gauges as the actual tanks.

The U.S. Army ordered 18 CDT/Tank simulators with reconfigurable M1A1 and M1A2 cabs–to replace 18 existing tank simulators in the field that are at the end of their lifecycle, and six new CDT/ Tank engineering variants.

MENTORING AND TRAINING IN AFGHANISTAN DynCorp International won a $232.4 million contract from The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to provide mentors and trainers to develop the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense (MOD.) The contract calls for DynCorp to assist the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and NATO Training Mission (NTM) by providing indepth mentoring, training, subject matter expertise, and programmatic support to CSTC-A staff and the Afghanistan MOD.

ETC DELIVERS ADMS TO SAUDI ARABIA Environmental Tectonics Corporation’s (ETC) Simulation Division completed delivery of its ADMS to the Saudi Arabian Civil Defense. ETC won a contract in December of 2008 for 3 ADMS simulators, all of which have now been installed at three training institutes in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Dammam and Abha.

Each center offers a full team training ADMS Incident Command team training simulator that will allow the Saudi Arabian Civil Defense to train its staff on a variety of different scenarios.

LASER MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING TO U.S. ARMY L-3 Communications won a contract with the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation for its Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS). The contract would be worth $48 million if all four options are exercised.

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Index of Ads Antycip Simulation 41 www.antycipsimulation.com AgustaWestland www.agustawestland.com 31 BAE Systems www.baesystems.com 6 Boeing www.boeing.com IFC Bohemia Interactive Simulations 14-15 www.bisimulations.com CAE www.cae.com OBC & Centre Spread Christie Digital www.christiedigital.com/simrevolution 28

Cubic Defense 19 www.cubic.com Defence IQ 45 www.defenceiq.com Eurosatory www.eurosatory.com 47 Forth Dimension Displays www.forthdd.com 33 Havelsan 4 www.havelsan.com.tr Ibersim 2010 www.ibersim.com 20 I/ITSEC 2010 www.iitsec.org 43 KMW – Krauss-Maffei Wegmann www.kmweg.com 16-17 Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace 10 www.kongsberg.com MÄK Technologies www.mak.com 35 projectiondesign www.projectdesign.com 9 RAeS Conferences www.aerosociety.com/conference 44 & 48

Raytheon 29 www.raytheon.co.uk Raydon 23 www.raydon.com RGB Spectrum www.rgb.com 13 & 39 Rheinmetall Defence Electronics www.rheinmetall-defence.com 24-25 Rockwell Collins 37 www.rockwellcollins.com SAAB www.saabgroup.com 3 SAIC www.saic.com/itec IBC Textron System www.aaicorp.com 21 UAV Training Conference 26 www.uavtrainingconf.com Virtual Logic Systems 11 www.virtuallogicsys.com

Calendar 14-15 September 2010 APATS 2010 - Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, Thailand www.halldale.com/APATS 9-10 November 2010 EATS 2010 - European Airline Training Symposium Istanbul, Turkey www.halldale.com/EATS 9-10 June 2010 Spring 2010 Flight Simulation Group Conference London, UK www.raes.org.uk 9–10 June 2010 4th Future Military Pilot Training Conference Berlin, Germany www.fmpt.ecm-berlin.de 9-10 June 2010 Air Mission Planning London, UK www.smi-online.co.uk 14–18 June 2010 Eurosatory 2010 Paris, France www.eurosatory.com 16–17 June 2010 Operating Helicopters Safely London, UK www.raes.org.uk 19–25 July 2010 Farnborough International Airshow Farnborough, Hampshire, UK www.farnborough.com

Advertising contacts Business Manager: Jeremy Humphreys [t] +44 (0)1252 532009 [e] jeremy@halldale.com Business Manager, North America: Mary Bellini Brown [t] +1 703 421 3709 [e] mary@halldale.com

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is a leading developer of composable systems across the live, virtual, and constructive domains. Our solutions and services are focused on preparing the Warfighter for mission success.

From OneSAF® to the Common Driver Trainer, OLIVE™ and SE Core to our MILES and range instrumentation solutions, our live, virtual, and constructive training and simulation products provide a complete range of capabilities to enable Warfighter readiness across the full spectrum of mission requirements.

Stop by the SAIC booth C-110 at ITEC 2010 to see these composable solutions in action.

To learn more, visit us at saic.com/itec

Energy | Environment | National Security | Health | Critical Infrastructure © Science Applications International Corporation. All rights reserved. SAIC and the SAIC logo are registered trademarks of Science Applications International Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. OneSAF is a registered trademark of the United States Army in the United States and/or other countries. OLIVE is a trademark of Science Applications International Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

NYSE: SAI

Innovation

No other company can match CAE’s technology leadership and innovation specific to modeling, simulation and training. One of our key areas of experience and expertise is providing simulation-based development and test environments during aircraft development as well as designing world-class ground-based training systems. For example, CAE is playing a key role on Aermacchi’s M-346 program. We have been selected the preferred full-mission simulator and training device provider for the M-346 Master, Aermacchi’s next-generation advanced lead-in fighter trainer, and in parallel use the simulation software in a test and development environment to support the aircraft development. Simulation-based solutions are a critical piece of the overall development and training capability, and CAE is proud to partner with aircraft OEMs such as Aermacchi to deliver comprehensive solutions. Our focus, experience, and innovation come together to help our customers stay one step ahead and achieve their objective: mission readiness.

AM126

Come visit CAE’s booth (#B110) at ITEC 2010 in London to see some of our latest products, services, and capabilities.

one step ahead

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