MS&T Magazine - Issue 2/2013

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Volume 30 • Issue 2/2013

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Training for Typhoon Training Transformation

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ISSUE 2.2013

Editorial comment

Looking for the Wow Factor They have become rare in today’s world of simulation, those extraordinary moments that elicit a “wow”. The question you will most often hear asked along exhibition hall aisles is “Did you see anything exciting?” But it's become more of a rhetorical question, with low expectations.

It seems that we have gradually been lowering our expectations. We are excited when a video game engine makes the battlefield look like World of Warcraft. When we hear the word “innovation” we applaud, not cutting-edge technology, but ever cheaper and simpler solutions. Not that I want to belittle this shift – from today’s perspective this almost exclusively budgetary view is in fact smart thinking, and it appears that there are no real alternatives. However, even if the thinking has got more pragmatic, over time researchers and engineers risk being lulled into a false sense of progressiveness that risks blocking the way for the next real step forward. And there are no visionary approaches in this system anyway.

Visions apparently went out of fashion a number of years ago – and not only after the former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt said that those who had visions should go and see a doctor.

And so it is all the more astonishing that it is precisely the European Union’s political body, the European Commission, that is now making the biggest research excellence award in history to a truly visionary simulation project: In January 2013 the “Human Brain Project” (HBP) won a €1bn competition funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Research Framework Programme. If there was ever a far-sighted programme out there, then this is it. The HBP wants no more and no less than to build a computer-based model of the brain that ultimately simuWalter F. Ullrich lates systems with hundreds of millions Europe Editor of nerve cells. A daring endeavour, given that simulating a single neuron today requires the full power of a laptop computer. If the HBP succeeds, the end result will not only provide us with a new understanding of the brain, it will lead to transformational new information and communication technologies. Interestingly, only a week after the EU, President Obama unveiled the “Brain Activity Map Project”, a US$3bn venture spread over ten years that aims to produce similar research results as the HBP. However, the two initiatives are not uncontroversial, and it is far from

The question you will most often hear asked along exhibition hall aisles is “Did you

see anything exciting?”

certain either of the two programmes will actually be successful. But that is just the way it is. Making visions come true is always fraught with risks.

While we have to wait another decade for the outcome of these visionary brain simulation projects, we can already see initial results of another vision today. NATO’s new Training and Education programme, e-NATO Education and Training, is currently at the implementation stage.

The new landscape for teaching and training within NATO will be able to coordinate and harmonise the requirements of NATO members, partners and other nations with available resources and opportunities. It will ensure the necessary quality and prioritisation, as well as ensure that training gaps are closed and redundancies avoided. Transformation efforts will strengthen the unity of teaching and education and improve quality. The vision of a standardised, publicly available and freely accessible education and training world has become a reality.

And when I say “world”, I do mean that quite literally here. Ultimately, the NATO education and training platform could be a global training environment not only for the Alliance but open to all international organisations such as the United Nations, the EU and the African Union, for instance. Those who would like to learn more about it should read Lieutenant-General Karlheinz Viereck’s article which is published in this issue. Or you could listen to the Joint Force Trainer for NATO’s Allied Command Transformation’s keynote at ITEC 2013 in Rome in the “Day 2 Opening Joint Session”.

As for ITEC, such events are destined to show us the real world of today’s training and simulation. Most of us will be there to present or to explain the not exactly fascinating mainstream reality. And once more we will say “brilliant” when “not bad” would be more appropriate. Let’s be honest, once we’re in the exhibition hall, aren’t we not all looking to be amazed, looking for something that makes us say “wow”? As long as we retain a little of what is left of our original enthusiasm, that will not change – and that’s a good thing!

Walter F. Ullrich MS&T Europe Editor

e walter@halldale.com M S & T MA G A Z I N E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Contents

ISSUE 2.2013

08

22

MS&T Magazine Military Simulation & Training Magazine

18

Editorial

Editor in Chief Chris Lehman e. chris@halldale.com Managing Editor Jeff Loube

e. jeff@halldale.com

Group Editor Marty Kauchak

e. marty@halldale.com

Europe Editor Walter F. Ullrich e. walter@halldale.com

Procurement Chuck Weirauch e. chuck@halldale.com US News Editor Lori Ponoroff e. lori@halldale.com RoW News Editor Fiona Greenyer e. fiona@halldale.com

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26

Operations

Design & David Malley

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05 Where’s The Vision? MS&T’s Europe Editor, Walter F. Ullrich looks for the ‘wow’ factor.

08 Training for Typhoon. The RAF finds Typhoon easy to fly, complex to operate. MS&T’s Dim Jones describes the training system for this aircraft in Part One of Two. 14 An Evolving E&T System. HQ SACT continues to lead change in NATO’s education and training system. Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck reports on developments.

18 Key to Success. Cultural and language capability is essential to success for regional commands. MS&T’s Chuck Weirauch reports on DoD training and support initiatives.

22 Training ISR Mission Crew. The IAF Flying Camel ISR squadron is getting significant results with a new simulator. Squadron personnel describe the system.

26 Mobile Learning Technologies. Mobile learning technology devices are evolving. Group Editor Marty Kauchak highlights some developments in the vehicle maintenance domain.

32 Tactical Leadership Programme. Constructive elements round out the exercises in NATO’s TLP. Major Bram Remmelzwaal, RNAF, writes.

36 Duxford and the Warbirds. Duxford is the home of ‘warbird’ flying in the UK, and restoration and maintenance. MS&T’s Dim Jones writes.

40 M&S and DWT-SGW. After a 3 year hiatus, M&S returns. Walter F. Ullrich reports.

On the cover: Spitfire Mk IIa (P7350) alongside a Typhoon from the RAF's OCU, 29 Sqn. Image credit: Jamie Hunter/ Aviacom

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42 Seen & Heard. Updates from the training and simulation community.

Compiled and edited by Fiona Greenyer.

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M S & T MA G A Z I N E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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18. 4. 2013 16:28:38

National Focus

Easy to Fly: Complex to Operate MS&T’s Dim Jones describes RAF Typhoon training system that addresses the new adage: aviate, assimilate, disseminate. This is the first part of a two part series.

T

he Eurofighter Typhoon, a 4th-generation multi-role fighter, now in service with 6 air forces and on order for a seventh, is the product of collaboration between 4 European nations, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The programme has its origins in an Air Staff Requirement raised by the UK MoD in the early 1970s, and a joint proposal by British Aerospace (UK) and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB - Germany) to their respective governments. Dassault (France) joined the programme in 1979, but withdrew in 1985 to pursue its own project, which resulted in the Rafale. Spain also withdrew at this time, but rejoined almost immediately.

After many concept and experimental iterations, the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) was designed by a consortium of 3 companies – EADS (Germany), Alenia Aeronautica (Italy), and British Aerospace (UK), acting as Eurofighter GmbH 08

MS&T MAGAZINE 2.2013

- and was developed from the Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) as a twin-engined canard-delta wing aircraft; the first flight of the prototype took place on 27th March 1994.

The initial production contract was signed on 30th January 1998, for a total of 620 aircraft, split 232/180/121/87 for the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain respectively. This resulted in a production workshare allocation of 37.5% for British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), 29.03% for DASA (now EADS(D)), 19.52% for Aeritalia (now Alenia), and 14.03% for CASA (now EADS(C)). The development programme was beset by equipment, funding and workshare (linked to final offtake) disagreements, and subject to significant delay, the degree of which can be judged by the fact that the aircraft was progressively known as Eurofighter 96 and Eurofighter 2000 before the newlychristened Typhoon entered front line

service in 2003. In the intervening years, many changes had taken place, not least the ending of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the threat against which Eurofighter had originally been designed. As far as the UK was concerned, successive ‘peace dividend’ defence cuts had also taken place, starting with ‘Options for Change’ in 1991 and culminating (so far) in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2010 – and this while the RAF was engaged in two Gulf Wars and the ensuing policing mission in Iraq, air operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and – latterly – Libya, together with the ongoing commitment to the Falkland Islands.

Production was planned to be split into 3 tranches, of which the last of the Tranche 1 deliveries, and the first of the Tranche 2, took place in 2008. By agreement, Tranche 3 (236 aircraft) was further subdivided, with Tranche 3A, compris-

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A single-seat Typhoon in the markings of No 29 Squadron, over RAF Coningsby.

Image credit: UK MOD Crown Copyright.

ing 112 aircraft, split 40/31/21/20 between UK/Ge/It/Sp. Of the 4 consortium nations, all required the aircraft as an air superiority fighter; however, only the UK had identified secondary roles of surface attack and tactical reconnaissance, as Typhoon was planned to replace the Tornado F3 in the air defence role, and Jaguar in the ground-attack and tactical reconnaissance roles.

In the event, progressive reductions in the Tornado GR4 fleet, and the early demise of the Harrier force as a result of SDSR, may result in an increased reliance on Typhoon’s air-to-surface capabilities.

These changes, added to progressive budgetary constraint and mirrored by similar situations in the other participating nations, have led to reductions in planned offtake – critical, since it was upon these that the production workshare agreements were formulated. The UK, having originally envisaged 250 airframes, reduced to 232 in 1995; definitive final delivery numbers are commercially and politically sensitive, but open sources suggest that Tranche 3A may be the final production, which would result in a total UK fleet of 160.

The RAF Typhoon force, as it currently stands, consists of 4 front line squadrons, Nos 3 and 11, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and Nos 1 and 6 based at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. The Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) is No 29 Squadron, based at Coningsby; an OT&E squadron, No 17, also based at Coningsby, disbanded on 12 April 2013, and is planned to reform at Edwards AFB to fulfil a similar function for Lightning 2; its OT&E duties have been transferred to No 41 Sqn, which operates both Typhoon and Tornado GR4. A fifth front-line squadron is planned, but will probably not be formed until after the planned move of Nos 1 and 6 Squadrons from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth.

Pilots for Typhoon were initially intended to be drawn largely from the disbanding Tornado F3 and Jaguar forces, augmented from an early stage by ab-initio pilots. The earlier-than-expected demise of the Harrier force added a further source of experience, especially in ground-attack. Until now, ab-initio pilots destined for Typhoon have trained sequentially on the Grob (single-piston), the Tucano (single turbo-prop), and the Hawk T1 (singlejet). The Hawk T1 has been in service since the mid-70s, and has aircraft systems and an analogue cockpit to match; the graduation to Typhoon presents quite a transitional challenge although, in the age of the ‘digital native’, young people are not in awe of advanced electronics. The Hawk T2 has just entered service, with the first student course graduating in May. Its glass cockpit, representative of Typhoon, plus emulated avionic systems, will make the transition much less precipitous in the future, and the Typhoon OCU staff have been involved in developing the T2 syllabus. The current OCU intake is roughly 50%/50% ab-initio and cross-trained.

As befits its design and generation, the Typhoon is extremely easy to fly; it is, however, complex to operate, being impressively equipped with sensors, datalink, weapons and defensive aids, and the training emphasis is on sensor fusion and systems and information management. Not for nothing has the old ‘priorities’ adage of ‘Aviate, Navigate, Communicate’ been adapted to ‘Aviate, Assimilate, Disseminate’.

First stop for the aspiring Typhoon pilot at Coningsby is the

09

National Focus Typhoon Training Facility, a purposebuilt unit, managed by BAE Systems, supported by both BAE Systems and Thales, and staffed by a mixture of RAF and contractor personnel; the TTF comprises groundschool – for both aircrew and maintenance personnel – and the simulators. The groundschool instruction methodology reflects the few years since it was devised, in that much of it is delivered by lecture, using visual presentation, such as PowerPoint, in contrast to the emphasis in more modern suites on individual e-learning. Nevertheless, the general view of the aircrew student body is that the training – directed at enabling the student to manage and understand the systems, rather than build a Typhoon from scratch – is effective. One aspect of the equipment which I found curious was that there is no desktop or cockpit mock-up trainer in which to practise HOTAS switchery and systems management; this is accomplished in the Cockpit Trainer (CT) or Full Mission Simulator (FMS) but, again, without detriment to training. Early courses were able to use an avionic demonstrator for these purposes, but this was not funded for through-life support. There are plans to introduce an enhanced and supported version in the near future.

Synthetic Training for Typhoon is also the product of 4-nation co-operation through the Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) consortium.

The equipment at Coningsby comprises 2 FMS and 2 CT. Additionally, at Leuchars, there are 2 Deployable Cockpit Trainers (DCT); the DCT was not a requirement of the other nations, and they were supplied to the UK by BAE Systems under a single-nation contract. The FMS are 6-channel domes, with 360x130FOV, run from remote Instructor Operating Stations (IOS); the CT has a more limited FOV, but the visual is higher quality, and the variable weather effects excellent. The HUD symbology in the CT is superimposed on the visual, rather than in the HUD itself, allowing close instruction direct from the co-located IOS. Neither FMS nor CT has motion, but all have limited motion cueing. The equipment is to aircraft standard, and the software is rehosted, which adds complexity, and can lead to some fragility, such as occa10

MS&T MAGAZINE 2.2013

sional freezing of the display, but provides excellent fidelity.

The 4 ASTA devices at Coningsby are fully linked but, as yet, not with the 2 DCTs at Leuchars, nor are they yet linkable with live aircraft. The simulator suite allows the option of either ‘training for training’ – i.e. preparing for airborne sorties under peacetime rules – or ‘training for the real world’. Additionally, the recent introduction of a new Thales mission debrief system is already enhancing this aspect of simulator training.

Instructor manning of the simulators is in a process of change. Early contractor personnel were experienced ex-RAF, but with no experience on type. They were supplemented by experienced serving pilots, mostly en-route to Typhoon squadron tours, but again with no Typhoon time. This required operational input for many sorties from OCU instructors, which impacted adversely on instructor availability on the squadron.

Now that the force is more mature, there is the opportunity for Typhoon-experienced pilots leaving the RAF to be employed by the contractor, thus obviating this requirement.

And so to the flight line. The 29 Squadron staff comprises 24 Qualified Pilot Instructors (a Typhoon-specific qualification). This number includes the Squadron Commander, 4 Flight Commanders, and a rich mix of experienced pilots, including Qualified Weapons Instructors (QWI), Qualified Flying Instructors (QFI) – a qualification transferred from other types – and exchange officers. The OCU also incorporates a QWI Flight, which runs the weapons instructor courses. The 16 aircraft are a mix of 2-seaters and single-seaters, including Tranche 1 Block 5 and Tranche 2 aircraft, which gives them an air-to-ground capability as well as air-to-air. The 2-seaters can be flown solo, but carry a fuel penalty; therefore the standard

Pilot in an RAF Typhoon Full Mission Simulator.

Image credit: UK MOD Crown Copyright.

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National Focus fit is to carry 2 external tanks to give the same fuel capacity as a single-seater with a single fuel tank. BAE Systems are responsible for deep servicing, and are under contract to produce an agreed pool of aircraft, from which the uniformed OCU maintenance personnel produce airframes to meet the needs of the daily flying programme. Reliability is generally good, and the standard flying schedule of 2 waves of 8 aircraft is normally achieved without difficulty.

The OCU course is 18 weeks long, comprising 4 weeks ground school, 13 weeks flying and one administrative week.

There are 5 phases: Conversion; Attack; Air-to-Air Combat; Quick Reaction Alert (QRA); and Defensive Counter-Air (DCA).

The course is designed with a 65%/35% synthetic/live split; in practice, it works out at around 50%/50% because of the requirement to keep the instructional staff current. The ground school phase includes 8 procedural and emergency simulator trips, and the Conversion phase can take the student to solo using the simulator only, without use of the 2-seater. Air exercises include general handling and pattern flying, instrument flying to rating standard (with the IRT flown in the simulator), formation, land away and basic sensor handling, all by day and night. Air-to-Air Refuelling is accomplished on an opportunity basis.

The attack phase comprises 4 sorties, all of which are flown in the simulator, and covers basic weapons handling, and use of PGM with both self- and co-operative target designation. The air-to-air combat phase starts with 2 simulator sorties, but is mostly flown in the air, and covers offensive and defensive Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM), 1v1 Dissimilar Air Combat (DACT), normally against an F-15, and 2v1 Air Combat Manoeuvring (ACM). The QRA phase qualifies the student to Limited Combat Ready (QRA) (LCR-Q), thus permitting alert duties immediately on arrival on the front line. The phase is heavily synthetic, because of the ability of the ASTA to replicate all aspects of the mission, from checking out the aircraft in the HAS through to the intercept, and simulating a variety of targets, from light aircraft through military to commercial airliners, at all levels. The preparation and qualification for the mission to mount QRA from RAF Northolt, in support of the 2012 Olympic Games, was all accomplished in the simulator. Lastly, the DCA phase explores all the intercept and weapons employment options open to Typhoon, from launch-and-leave to a planned merge, and scenarios progress to 2 v Many in multiple groups. The aim on the OCU is to produce a reliable wingman, although ability and previous experience may allow further progression.

In all, the OCU syllabus, as currently accomplished, comprises 62 events, including: 42 hours of academics, not including the groundschool; 41 hours of simulator, plus 15 hours of periodic emergency training; and 41 hours of flying. The success rate is impressive; thus far, only one pilot has failed the course, and 2 more have been suspended from front-line squadrons after graduating from the OCU. Over the first few years as the Typhoon OCU, 29 Squadron has faced the task of manning the build-up of the front line in minimum time. This task is now almost complete, but has been complicated by unexpected additional commitments, such as providing training for Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) pilots, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to buy Typhoon. During the first 12

MS&T MAGAZINE 2.2013

few years, the Typhoon force has been largely protected, except at executive levels, from outward flow, but such postings – such as to the training system and to ground tours – are now beginning to happen, and this will generate a requirement for replacements on both the frontline and the OCU. Typhoon was originally designed to combat a Cold War threat; the range of scenarios and theatres in which it might be deployed today are very different – indeed, the aircraft has already been employed in the Libyan campaign. In the next edition of MS&T, I will look at operational and tactical training, to see how these exploit Typhoon’s capabilities in the new environment. mst

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Above The IOS and the Cockpit Trainer.

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Training Transformation

An Evolving Education & Training System NATO continues to modernise and improve the education and training system as an integral part of transformation. DCOS JFT Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck provides an update.

H

eadquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) in Norfolk, Virginia is the responsible Strategic Command to fulfil NATO’s transformational requirements. Education and Training (E&T) is one of the driving forces for this transformational process, as are Capability Development and Strategic Plans & Policy.

Over the past four years, Joint Force Trainer (JFT) has led the development of a new Education and Training System on behalf of SACT. The goal is to coordinate all of NATO’s E&T efforts, including exercises, to shape the alliance to current requirements.

New E&T System A new E&T System has emerged, one that is more effective, efficient and affordable. It consists basically of 3 main parts: • A Global Programming practice (see below); • An alignment with international educational standards (comparable to the Bologna standards), which has started in several institutions and proved to be very attractive; and • A Training Integration Plan as an annual cycle, embodying a process from statement of requirements via programming to development or adaptation of Strategic Training Plans which will be approved by the Military Committee (MC) or North Atlantic Council (NAC), if partners are involved.

In NATO terms, Global Programming is framed by 5 characteristics: • Definition of structures and responsibilities; 14

MS & T MAGA Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

• Disregard of “historic” border-like distinctions between national and NATO E&T, along the lines of Smart Defence; • Inclusion of other organizations like EU, AU and UN in the process of creating training programmes; • Execution along the principle “the best delivers”, i.e. any institution can be responsible for content and execution of a course, independent of it being a NATO or partner E&T Institution; and • A Training Management System In a top down approach, political and/or military guidance are broken down from a strategic level via a Training Requirements Analysis and Training Needs Analysis to the identification / setup of single courses and exercises. In this process, a Requirements Authority, the identified subject matter expert on a strategic level, helps define the requirements; the Department Head controls the training execution for the subject on behalf of JFT, and holds the authority for curricula of courses. The spectrum for courses spans from traditional residential

The JFT explains NATO's new E&T at the Training Synchronization Conference 2013 in Riga, Latvia.

Image credit: Gatis Diezins and Normunds Mezins.

courses to e-Learning and Serious Games, all of which are then managed through the new Training Management System.

Training Management System In the past, information about courses in NATO Education and Training Institutions was only available via printed course catalogues. Distribution with digital files was the exception. The inherent update cycle was endless. Applying for courses was complicated – a several step process with different entities involved – and lengthy, until finally a positive entry was achieved. On top of that, a central overview over all subjects was missing.

This process is now history.

With a combination of several applications in one new system, all this can be done easily in a central, online Training Management System. An easy-touse search engine delivers all the information and details. NATO’s Education and Training Opportunities Catalogue (ETOC) presents the basis for all courses that are available whether hosted by institutions of NATO members or part-

ner countries. In consequence, it gives a holistic and structured overview over accredited and other courses, for anybody to choose from. The search engine gives easy access to course types, education and training institutions, regional offers, categories and subjects – any search word. The catalogue is available on the Internet, without a password or restricting classification and forms the global platform for other organizations.

7" x 4.88" With introduction of the electronic Individual Training & Education Programme (e-ITEP) as a Management System and linkage with the ETOC, the posts of a structure, i.e. of headquarters or mission specific, are associated with the respective

An illustration of the total process for Education & Training.

Image credit: NATO.

MS & T MAGA Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Training Transformation training requirements. In a future version this will also include relevant exercises. e-ITEP is a commercial-of-the-shelf software - which is also used for training management in the industry - by Raytheon Professional Services. e-ITEP allows: • An overview over training requirements in NATO structures per post; • Application to courses per individual; • Course Planning for NATO Education and Training Institutions with a booking system; • Course preparation based on registered participants; • Publication of short-notice changes to single courses; and • Easy adaptation to user-driven requirements.

In combination with the ETOC, the individual can find course details to time, place, duration, content and requirements for all course opportunities in all registered education and training institutions including those of partner countries. As an example, if bound for a NATO assignment or as commander, it is easy to find out about your individual requirements for the new job. If a specific training is missing, you will find out which institutions offer that course and apply online via the Training Management System.

The TMS is directly accessible via http://e-itep.act.nato.int or via NATO’s Education & Training Portal www.e-nato.net.

The system allows institutions an early assessment of applications for a course and therefore evaluation of the actual needs.

This can be the basis for adaptations to the course catalogue concerning additional or non-needed iterations.

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The system is easy to handle and user friendly.

Only the individual training management – i.e. the registering and managing of individuals – and mission related structures require a password to login.

The system has been running with initial operating capabilities since 20 January 2013.

By September 2013 the whole NATO Command Structure (NCS) will be implemented as well. By the end of 2014, the Training Management System will also be able to manage exercises for NATO. Until December 2012 the Military Training & Education Programme (MTEP) that handles the exercises, was only available on the NATO SECRET WAN, which had a considerable impact on data exchange, especially with partner countries. Presently, a copy is also available online, but real-time information will only be available, when switching from a manual update to an automated process in the next step.

A study is in the making that explores options to define interfaces to national Training Management Systems of NATO members and partner countries. Nations, that don’t have an IT-based TMS, may consider joining the NATO TMS. The new NATO Education & Training landscape we created over the past 3 years will be able to coordinate NATO’s and nations’ requirements within the available resources and opportunities. It will ensure the necessary quality and prioritisation, and ensure training gaps are filled and redundancies avoided. Transformation efforts will enhance unity of Education & Training, and increase its quality.

From the academic field in preparation, through exercises, until use in the operational field, modern technologies, methods and platforms will provide the best source for affordable and durable solutions. Using e-Learning ensures that NATO and partner staffs have access to highquality education and training that can be tailored to individual needs, enabling personnel to effectively contribute to the NATO mission. Industry standards and the use of specific – but not niche – products provide a solid basis to build on.

We must look further towards our use of technology in areas such as distributed joint force training events, where practice in a simulated environment is possible, ensuring full interoperability prior to going live. This will both save money and more importantly lives in a stressful situation.

The evaluation of current capabilities and joint efforts together with the industry, as well as mobile platforms and the use of a virtual, distributed environment, even deployed, lead to a connected Education & Training: www.e-NATO.net mst

MS & T MAGA Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Culture and Language

Dagger Brigade As teams deploy to Africa, they do so with a new awareness of language and culture.

MS&T’s Chuck Weirauch describes culture and language initiatives.

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eams from the US Army's 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Dagger Brigade) deploying to various African countries and regions starting this April, will be the first units to do so in support of the US African Command (AFRICOM). They will have undergone language and cultural training specifically geared to their areas of deployment at the newly created Dagger University at the Division's home base at Fort Riley, Kansas. Their mission is to support each country's security forces and to promote development and stability.

Essential Training This mission depends even more on language and cultural skills of US armed forces and civilian personnel than in the past, since AFRICOM is described by the Department of Defense as a major innovation, a new kind of regional military command, "one focused not on military defense and warfighting, but on peacetime military engagement activities promoting development and stability." There are no plans for a large Army footprint in Africa, and the deployment of a full brigade, for example, would take place only in the event of a crisis. Instead, the Command will be deploying small teams of mentors, with Dagger Brigade teams serving as the main force provider for security cooperation and partnership-building missions in Africa.

"Cultural and language training for our military units participating in engagements on the African continent is vital to the success of those engagements," said Major General Charles 18

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Hooper, Director of U.S. Africa Command's Strategy, Plans and Programs Directorate, and who is also the senior Foreign Area Officer (FAO) in the US Army. "We routinely include such training for military personnel traveling to Africa to participate in military-to-military engagements."

"There are numerous reasons why training can enhance mission effectiveness," Hooper continued. "Africa is home to innumerable tribes, ethnic, and social groups, in which only a few countries share a single language. The more we learn about our African partners – their language, their customs, and their cultures – the better able we are to communicate, cooperate and perform in a manner that fosters trust and strengthens our relationships."

Dagger University Dagger Brigade soldiers undergo an initial full week of pre-deployment language and cultural training after they have gone through combat training and Combat

Starting in April, the Army will align the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, with U.S. Africa Command.

Image credit: U.S. Army Africa.

Training Center (CTC) live exercises. For while building African nation partnerships and peacekeeping are the primary AFRICOM mission, the African continent is emerging as one of the world's hotbed of terrorist activities, along with political instability in some countries.

According to Dagger Brigade Commander Col. Jeff Broadwater, his command has received assistance in developing the curricula for Dagger University from subject matter experts at the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies at the Army's Combined Arms Center (CAC) at Fort Leavenworth, KS, the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and Kansas State University. The 162nd Infantry Brigade advisors based at Fort Polk, LA, deliver the actual training in advisor skills, combat skills, and security force assistance skills.

There are more than 2,100 languages spoken on the African continent; however, Dagger Brigade is initially concentrating on Arabic, French and Swahili, often the official languages of several of the countries to which Dagger Bri-

gade teams will be deployed. Some of the language and cultural skills training is provided by the CAC at Fort Leavenworth and Kansas State. Other learning experiences are provided through roleplaying instructional training scenarios provided by the 162nd Brigade that deal with specific social and cultural aspects of the host country to which they will be deployed, Broadwater explained.

"We're not going to make anybody an expert of languages in this first week," Broadwater pointed out. "Initially we want our soldiers to learn basic phrases and have an understanding of the cultural and socials issues so that we can gain a good rapport with that nation's security forces."

But that's just the start for the Dagger University concept. Once Brigade members return from their first monthlong deployment, they can return to the school to further enhance their language and cultural skills through Army professional development programs and other curricula. They can also become certified to perform a particular mission. The idea

is for Dagger University to continue to develop and grow, incorporating lessons learned and offering more educational opportunities for its soldiers, Broadwater said. The program is also designed to serve as a model for other US regional combatant commands, as the 2nd Brigade is the first to put together such a comprehensive language and cultural training program, he added.

"We are focusing on putting a little sharper point on the pencil for the AFRICOM missions that we will go to," Broadwater summed up. "Dagger University gives the soldiers on the team the tools that they will need as they as they get closer to the execution of the mission. One of the most important lessons that we have learned over the past ten years is just how important it is to have even a little bit of understanding of basic language and culture."

VCAT expansion Some of the language and cultural tools that are being employed by AFRICOM include Virtual Cultural Awareness

M S & T M AGA Z I NE 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Culture and Language trainer (VCAT) Horn of Africa and VCAT North Africa. Both of these interactive, game-and-Web-based trainers have been developed by Alelo for the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The DLNSEO was created in February 2012 as the merging of the Defense Language Office and the National Security Education Program.

The VCATS are designed to teach language and cultural skills specific to their geographic locations. They provide scenario-driven exercises that enable students to learn the most effective ways to complete missions in that region by using culturally appropriate behaviors and key phrases. Those missions generally include civil affairs operations, security cooperation, partner forces training, and humanitarian operations, along with others.

In addition to VCAT Horn of Africa and VCAT North Africa, Alelo has also provided VCAT Afghanistan and VCAT South America and is currently developing VCAT Central America, VCAT Hispaniola, VCAT Southeast Asia and VCAT Taiwan for DLNSEO. VCAT Afghanistan was the first in the series of this gamebased trainer. All of the current VCATS can be accessed via the Department of Defense's Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) organization, and the programs under development will also be offered through JKO once they are available.

According to Marc Hill, DLNSEO's Associate Director for Culture Education and Training, more than 2,600 Army soldiers have enrolled in the Horn of Africa course. Mrs. Cathy Moran, Chief of Advanced Technologies for JKO, pointed out that VCAT Afghanistan is primarily available through the JKO network. She also said that while VCAT Horn of Africa is not considered mandatory for AFRICOM forces, Hooper considers it as a vital part of his command's pre-deployment training package.

According to Alelo President and CEO Lewis Johnson, US regional commands and DLNSEO have been asking his company to expand its language and cultural training products, and he has just gotten a request for additional countries and the mobile version of VCAT Afghanistan. Alelo is also getting ready to roll mobile versions of VCAT out to several other regions of the world as well, he said. Some Pacific Rim products have been specified

by DLNSEO and the Navy's Center for Language Expertise and Culture, Johnson added.

"The US regional commands are looking for more cultural trainers, particularly SOUTHCOM," Johnson pointed out. "They are looking for more role-playing scenarios covering more of a range of missions, such as foreign military training disaster relief, as well as looking for more mobile versions to increase the convenience of this training."

Training across the DoD Along with the US commands' desire to provide more language and cultural skills for frontline armed forces personnel, there is also ongoing effort to expand this effort across the DoD. Hill explained that DLNSEO's goal is to provide a baseline level of language and cultural training for all DoD personnel. To that end, his agency has been working with the JKO organization to develop and implement a trainer similar to the VCAT concept called the Cross Cultural Competency Trainer (3CT).

"We at DLNSEO actually added a section in the DoD language and cultural policy document (DoD Instruction 5160.70 - Management of DoD Language and Regional Proficiency

In addition to VCAT Horn of Africa (above) and VCAT North Africa, Alelo has also provided VCAT Afghanistan and VCAT South America.

Screenshot: Alelo.

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Capabilities) so that everyone in the DoD would be exposed to cross cultural competence in initial training," Hill said.

"And if they hadn't had this training, we wanted to provide them with a way so that they could actually get credit for it."

"So in cooperation with JKO we decided to create an online trainer that would include the baseline of cultural competencies that we thought that everyone in the DoD needed," Hill continued. "We brought all of the service cultural centers together to determine what would be the best competencies that would work for this 3CT trainer and how

it would mesh with the [DoD 5160.70] Instruction."

According to JKO's Moran, the game-based, scenario-driven 3CT is available through this online network, as well as secure military and public Internet networks for both individual and collective training. 3CT apps for iPhone and Android devices are also available for individual training. The apps were developed in collaboration with the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) organization.

The 3CT features avatars, story-telling videos and other interactive elements to keep the student engaged.

"The 3CT was developed in two phases, one for the military and one for civilians," Moran explained. "So what we have today is a 3CT with tracks for military missions or civilian missions for a civilian expeditionary workforce provincial reconstruction team. The basic theme is for the 3CT to provide scenariodriven insights as to how to lead successful initial meetings with local leaders, the planning of medical missions and providing security assistance, for example. The 3CT can be employed for pre-deployment training and mission rehearsal as well. It can also be used to learn how various cultures interact with each other."

While the VCAT and 3CT courses are now available, DLNSEO will continue to encourage further development and implementation of language and cultural training courseware, Hill said.

"What we want to do in the future is to work with all of the COCOMS to provide the same type of language and cultural training for them as well," Hill summed up. "We are going to make sure that we continue to update missions and mission support. From the top down, the DoD has placed huge importance on language and cultural training and to maintain those skills, and we are going to make sure that everyone in the DoD is properly prepared and have the tools that they need to accomplish any mission." mst

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Training Technology Fire tower simulator.

Image credit: IAF Mador Dovrut.

Leveraging Simulation The IAF Flying Camel Squadron is improving ISR training and readiness with a new ISR training centre.

T

he "Flying Camel" squadron is one of the primary Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) squadrons in the Israeli Air Force, responsible for gathering Visual Intelligence (VisInt) and providing real time mission support in the form of high quality visuals to fighter aircrafts and ground forces. The squadron clocks more flight hours than any other manned squadron in the IAF. In the past decade there has been a steady rise in operational flight hours carried out by the “Flying Camels”, numbers which are likely to continue to increase due to the rising demand from other squadrons for high quality VisInt as well as what we in the force refer to as “Blue/Green jointness”: air assistance and support to ground units. This is the only squadron where IDF intelligence personnel (airborne observers) are fully integrated at the squadron-level to serve by the side of IAF pilots on every mission.

During the recent operation “Pillar of Defense” (November 2012) the squadron played a central role in locating and identifying underground launchers aimed at citizens living in Israel’s southern cities as well as munitions warehouses in the Gaza strip. The squadron provides real time visual feed in the vicinity of such 22

M S & T M AGA Z INE 2 . 2 0 1 3

target sites to ensure no civilians are within range - one of several means to avoid harm to uninvolved parties during these missions.

The high demand for our squadron's unique services meant that availability of aircraft (King Air B200) for non-operational purposes, i.e. training flights is severely limited. Crews and the commanders from the squadron recognized the need to maintain training requirements, and together with personnel from the IAF Simulator Branch and civilian Industries (Ness Technologies as main contractor and Simlat Ltd.) built a custom simulator which has overwhelmingly boosted the readiness capability and level of training of squadron observers and mission commanders.

Fire Tower Trainer The King Air B200 is installed with an ISR system – Fire Tower – unique to the IAF. Two airborne observers and a mission commander, each at their station, man the cabin.

The Mission commander manages and coordinates the mission - guiding two pilots around the area of interest and two airborne observers for optimal and strategic visuals. In addition, the mission commander provides real time commu-

nication with headquarters or the ground forces and relays mission-specific information back to the crew.

Before the simulator was introduced, training of airborne observers and mission commanders took place in the aircraft itself and required the full five-person crew. Moreover, each training flight required an available aircraft, as well relying on less reliable parameters such as convenient weather, air traffic and air space. The simulator was thus introduced as a means to fill the void of training flights, independent of these parameters. Now, the training session takes place in a cabin mock up, connected to a virtual world of simulation. The trainer’s instructor station and image generators provide visual feed to each trainee station. The instructor role-plays the flight crew.

While all other IAF squadrons must “outsource” training hours at various simulation and training units - which are external to the operational squadron, the “Flying Camels” now enjoy the in-house training centre - “Fire Tower Trainer”.

The “Fire Tower Trainer” is comprised of the operational "Fire Tower" system and a special Interface computer that bridges "Fire Tower's trainees’ real world with the virtual world of the Simlat Full Crew

Stand Alone Training System (referred to by the civilian industry as C-STAR).” All three components together create a full mission crew training solution that has become a cost-effective training tool.

The training simulator enables team members to train simultaneously on a mission. This allows the inimitable team dynamics between crewmembers to surface, so the instructors may review them and be improved upon.

The C-STAR system can be customized for every platform; payload or mission (allowing simultaneous training of payload operation skills). This variability is critical for thorough training of crews as such parameters play a major part in real-life mission management. It creates a virtual world comprised of the aircraft, the sensor, the arena, training scenarios and live "true" video to the trainees’ screens. Squadron personnel working with the simulator note that the mock-up is incredibly realistic; the cabin, high-fidelity communication, visual feed, manoeuvring and sensation of the EO device gives an experience quite similar to an actual ISR flight.

Instructional Capabilities Instructors must have sound knowledge regarding the operation or “technicalaspects” of the simulator. Perhaps more importantly, they are the personnel responsible for classifying the scenarios the crew will deal with per simulation.

Each instructor must be well-versed with mission-related knowledge, so as to be able to role-play the pilot’s communication. By doing this, instructors can create scenarios to test the crew’s ability to react to a change in the navigation or safety status of the plane. C-STAR gives the training instructor a complete ability to create, control, guide and execute the training session.

The instructional capability of the simulator improves a range of skills, including: • Teamwork and communication dynamics • Dealing with technical faults and emergency procedures • Choosing the most appropriate EO device given mission conditions and scenario • Abiding by IAF principles and mission-protocol; prioritizing, decision making and dilemmas • Correct classification of VisInt: militant vehicle, suspicious activity etc.

• Correct location and positioning of the aircraft and requesting to reposition aircraft if necessary.

Simulator instructors in the IAF are usually young female soldiers (age range between 20-22), who have passed an intense 10 month course. The course covers basic simulation and training terminology, and specializes in knowledge of IAF orders and protocol for various mission scenarios; how to instruct, and

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The Beechcraft King Air B200 “Tzofit” training centre Beechcraft King Air B200 pilots of the Israeli Air Forces (IAF) are trained at the “Tzofit” training centre near Tel Aviv. Elbit Systems has been operating the facility since 2009. It is financed through a private financing initiative (PFI) programme in which Elbit Systems provides the IAF with a turnkey solution, supplying all of the services in the centre, including the maintenance and training of the pilots and air cadets. Training includes simulator flight training sessions with instructors who are both employed and trained by Elbit Systems. The flight and ground school instructors are veteran IAF pilots, all of whom are King Air B200 captains with thousands of flight hours.

The full flight simulator (FFS) is Level D-qualified by Transport Canada (Canadian Aviation Authority) and includes a highly sophisticated sixdegrees-of-freedom motion system, hi-fidelity cockpit with advanced avionics and visual system. The trainer was jointly developed with the Canadian company Mechtronix, which operates as sub-contractor in the project.

The King Air B200 training centre is also open to civil aviation pilots both from Israel and elsewhere. - Walter F. Ullrich

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M S & T M AGA Z INE 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Training Technology improve teamwork skills. They are a well respected authority on training matters and provide feedback to the airborne observers as well as the senior mission commanders following each simulation exercise.

Added Value The simulator has boosted two training elements recognizably vital to members of the squadron: readiness and specialization. The first: maintaining missionreadiness of aircrews can now be carried out at least every quarter independent of the personnel and weather limitations described earlier.

Under these new training conditions scenarios can be made more challenging; advancing mission parameters to higher levels than can ordinarily be experienced on a standard airborne training flight. Since over 80% of the squadron’s personnel are reservists they average at least one operational flight per week.

The simulator has provided more training experience than standard reconnaissance missions can facilitate such as how to deal with emergency procedures or how to guide attack units to a target area etc.

The second training element to be greatly improved as a result of the simulator has been role-specialization for airborne observers. Two airborne observers man two stations: the more senior (S1) is responsible for identifying and classifying the aerial picture, while the other scout (S2) focuses on zoom and filtering of the EO device. In order to qualify for S2 specialization, scouts would progress based on the number of actual flight hours and the nature and complexity of the missions involved. With the introduction of the simulator, the process now includes a standardized number of hours in the simulator, each simulated mission grants progress to the next level: ranging from basic reconnaissance to more complex ground force support missions. The results from the training centre factor in to the eligibility of personnel to serve in the more senior position (S10), a decision made by the squadron’s review committee.

Scenarios Creating an environment with highresemblance to the operational world 24

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runs central to achieving a well-rounded and adaptable crew.

This challenge remains central to improving and developing the range of environments that can be simulated on a training scenario. The added benefit of one scenario (modelling crowded urban environment wherein crews needed to identify missile-launchers and munitions stores) greatly added to the readiness of crews during the recent operation “Pillar of Defense”.

Although not yet celebrating two years since its introduction, the “Fire Tower Trainer” has already proven its benefit, and not simply by justifying its financial viability. Most notably, the mission-readiness of personnel during last year’s IDF “Pillar of Defense” operation was unparalleled. But there is still progress to be made; the more geographical scenarios we can train our pilots and airborne observers, the better prepared they will be. Being able to deal with a range of challenging, customized scenarios is the way forward - encouraging the creativity of our instructors to put forward as many different scenarios as is reasonable. While simulated missions cannot fully replace the training experience from an airborne mission perspective, the training teams can function more independently of external and variable parameters. Independent continuity of the training programme for maximum readiness and specialization remains a top priority for the ISR responsibilities of the IAF “Flying Camels”. The 24/7 demand for the squadron’s high quality ISR (operational missions) no longer competes with the demand to train and maintain the fitness of personnel. The introduction of the simulator has ensured that these training demands are and will continue to be fully met.

The Authors Contributors to this article were Commander of Operations Division at Reconnaissance squadron; Commander of Training and Simulation Centre; and the Head of Weapon and UAV Simulator Section. mst

Beechcraft King Air B200.

Image credit: IAF Mador Dovrut.

BUILDING IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES:

How HAVOK is Extending Training & Simulation

Havok, a relative newcomer to the simulation industry, has been making significant headway in addressing technology and workflow needs for the development of simulation and training capabilities. With the expansive feature set of Havok’s complete simulation development framework, Havok Vision Engine, companies such as Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall, Kongsberg, KMW, CORYS, EADS, Thales and ADD are creating compelling, game-quality visuals for lifelike simulation environments. Now, Havok’s integration of Rocketbox Libraries, allows companies to further speed the development process with high definition 3D soldiers, civilians and other character models to build a more immersive experience for simulation and training.

Aiming to vastly improve the quality of simulation systems, Havok has focused significant time and resources toward R&D initiatives, and is currently working closely with leading integrators around the world to help better address simulation and training requirements for the market. From specialized content types, communications protocols and extremely large environments, to powerful rendering features and augmented workflow, Havok gives developers the tools they need to improve the look and accelerate time-to-market for new projects. Commercial games customers such as Sony, Microsoft Games Studios and Activision Blizzard all demand cutting edge visuals in their games, and Havok technology has been a big part of delivering that over the past decade. The combined experience from the entertainment and simulation industries has helped Havok deliver hybrid technology that is well adapted for simulation and provides an unprecedented level of realism.

“Here at Havok, our heritage and continued efforts as a leading middleware technol-

ogy provider for commercial games has led us to develop some of the best real-time technology in support of some of the most demanding customers in the world,” said Cory Kumm, Worldwide Director of Military & Simulation at Havok. “Most recently by offering Rocketbox Libraries as a part of our complete Havok Vision Engine development framework, we’re giving customers all of the resources they need to create truly immersive experiences, with high definition, high performance characters and animations, all at a lower cost than inhouse development.”

The acquisition of Rocketbox Studios and integration into Havok’s development framework further extends capabilities to meet project timelines and budgets with pre-fabricated, high performance characters and animation. Rocketbox Libraries includes dozens of ready-to-use physicsbased 3D models including Rocketbox Libraries’ suite of high-definition 3D soldiers.

These character models are optimized for usage in real-time applications with multiple levels of detail and standardized

skeletons, as well as facial animation rigs that include expressions and visemes for lip synced speech.

Demonstrations of Havok’s full portfolio of 3D visualization software, as well as the Rocketbox Libraries, will be available at ITEC in Rome, May 22-May 23.

Havok Stand B100 Rocketbox Libraries Stand B110

Cory Kumm is the Worldwide Director of Military & Simulation for Havok.

FOR MORE INFORMATION www.havoksimulation.com simsales@havoksimulation.com Havok™, an Intel® company, has offices in San Francisco, Orlando, Europe and Asia.

Maintenance Training

Mobile Learning Enablers Group Editor Marty Kauchak highlights developments in mobile technology devices for vehicle maintenance training.

A

walkabout of the exhibition floor at the 2012 I/ITSEC and other recent industry trade conferences once again highlighted the continued, rapid growth and evolution of the mobile learning devices sector.

A cascading array of handheld portable devices including smartphones, PDAs, tablets and other equipment have the potential to provide service men and women with the opportunity to learn and/or refresh their skills anytime, anywhere. While industry is providing increasingly capable mobile learning products, there is the stark reality that service requirements determine if and when this technology is integrated into DoD courses.

While the Pentagon is eyeing mobile learning competencies to support the operation and maintenance of its huge inventory of weapons platforms and weapons systems throughout the ser-

26

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vices, we’re limiting our focus in this article to developments in ground vehicle maintenance training.

Industry Efforts This author has seen a number of trends and developments in maintenance training for almost two decades. In that time military maintainers have received increasingly capable virtual training devices as part of a blended solution – mixing live, hands-on training with a dose of technology – when required by the service.

DiSTI is among the S&T companies which have pushed the envelope in this sector with maintenance trainers, procedures trainers, full systems trainers and other devices for military units in the US and overseas – with its eye currently on advancing mobile training applications.

Scott Ariotti, the company’s director of global marketing, noted that as mobile applications for training are gaining more and more interest every day, there is one significant trend – “the tablets are taking over.” The Orlando-based executive further predicted that as laptops disrupted the desktop market in the past 10 years, “tablets will disrupt the laptop market in the same way as their capabilities grow over the next 10 year.”

DiSTI got out in front of this development when the first-

NGRAIN’s new augmented reality capability permits maintainers to perform tasks viewing a piece of live equipment through the “window” of an Apple tablet that displays 2-D/3-D graphical overlays, video and text augmentations.

Image credit: NGRAIN.

generation Apple iPad hit the market in 2010. The company’s GL Studio ES (Embedded Systems) product was developed to work with the graphics processing of these new portable systems. Ariotti and his colleagues immediately began experimenting with what was possible. “We ported one of our engine trainers to run on the iPad and Android tablets as a proof of concept to see how well it would work. The results were amazing,” he recalled.

Last July DiSTI posted the engine trainer to the App Store (under the name Virtual Engine) to test the waters of how well it would be received and get feedback. “We are averaging 500(+) downloads a week and there has been one trend in the comments: ‘Give us more’”, Ariotti said.

At the 2012 I/ITSEC, DiSTI unveiled the Lumen Runtime Engine for GL Studio. This new runtime architecture for GL Studio was developed specifically to handle all of the new hardware and operating system capabilities introduced by the growth in mobile devices. Ariotti described the significance of Lumen. “As we move forward the Lumen runtime will trivialize moving training application content between desktops, laptops, iPads, and Android tablets.”

Josie Sutcliffe, the vice president of marketing at NGRAIN, described her company’s progress in this sector.

In one instance the US Army used Stryker Battle Damage Assessment and Repair (BDAR) courseware consisting of NGRAIN interactive 3-D simulations to close a critical training gap identified in the field. The solution was used at Camp Victory, Iraq, allowing soldiers to learn and practice important BDAR procedures in a scenario-based simulated environment. Sutcliffe said her company “expects that similar proven NGRAIN solutions will be re-purposed for use on mobile devices in the near future.”

Sutcliffe also discussed her company’s other efforts to get out in front of the military’s rapidly evolving and rigorous logistic life cycle and IT requirements.

LOMAH

In one instance NGRAIN’s new augmented reality capability permits maintainers to perform tasks viewing a piece of live equipment through the “window” of an Apple tablet that displays 2-D/3-D graphical overlays, video and text augmentations. Sutcliffe noted the technology can be used to give vehicle maintainers immediate access to system parts information, repair history, and critical system functions, such as fluid flows.

“They can also receive guidance about remove and install procedures through animations and interactive task steps, which enhance on-the-job training,” she said.

Through another significant effort, NGRAIN’s cloud computing solution allows multiple users on a range of devices to interact at the same time with the same 3-D simulation. “We see a future where a soldier on the front lines can troubleshoot a maintenance problem using whichever device they have at the ready – be it an iPad or Android tablet – and interact with an expert in real time on the other side of the world through the same 3-D knowledge object,” Sutcliffe said, and continued, “When it comes to enhancing maintenance training and support, cloud computing will be a tremendous enabler.”

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Maintenance Training produce outputs that are compatible with the cloud computing solution of choice for its customers.

No Requirements in One Service Against the backdrop of these representative developments, the military customer, at the end of the day, must establish the requirement for mobile technology, and fund the integration of these products into training systems for vehicle maintenance programs.

In one instance, Army Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evans, the PEO STRI product manager for ground combat tactical trainers, told MS&T, “Currently there is no requirement for mobile training technology for ground vehicle maintenance personnel.”

While this technology enabler does not support vehicle maintenance learning content, the Army uses other training devices to train aspiring and qualified maintainers.

The Army has computer-based training in its virtual environment interactive-specific classrooms aligned with specific combat vehicles, including M1 Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Multiple Launch Rocket System and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Launchers, and the Stryker Family of Vehicles. The service also has full size simulators for these vehicles. “These simulators train specific maintenance related and 'remove and replace' tasks to soldiers. Each of the vehicles listed has an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) which is authored by the equipment’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and managed by the system's product manager shop.

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These IETMs are loaded on a notebook computer-like piece of equipment called a Maintenance Support Device and is available within fielded units,” Evans said.

Other services’ representatives declined to speak with MS&T about this or any other S&T requirement. The spokespersons pointed out ongoing actions to implement newly directed sequestration funding reductions, uncertainties about the fiscal year 2014 budget request and other developments, precluded their discussions.

Beyond the military services, one major supplier of maintenance training to military units around the globe also is eyeing an expanded use of the virtual training domain for its customers.

Oshkosh Defense, as an OEM, delivers training as part of the life cycle support package for vehicle contracts with military customers in the US and many regions of the world. In that capacity, the company takes training to the military service, providing expertlevel training to vehicle operators and mechanics on all Oshkosh vehicles and technologies. Oshkosh’s reputation as an industry training provider has been bolstered by training thousands of personnel in-theater, at customer locations throughout the US and other parts of the world, or at the Oshkosh Product Training Center.

LTC Mark Evans, product manager for ground combat tactical trainers, PEO STRI. Image credit: PEO STRI.

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Maintenance Training While Oshkosh frequently tailors its course curricula to focus on the customer’s specific needs, the company recommends a blended approach to training that includes virtual task trainers, in-classroom and hands-on training. “This allows us to deliver highly-effective training to large groups at a low cost,” Jeff Koga, the company’s associate vice president, for integrated product support, said.

Koga cited one of Oshkosh’s recent successes with using virtual training in its courses. Conducting Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Tanker (HEMTT) fueling and de-fueling training tasks on the live equipment presents safety issues, and can be expensive and time consuming. “Oshkosh has developed a cutting edge virtual training solution for the HEMTT Tanker that improves trainee confidence, cuts training time and cost, and reduces wear and tear on customer equipment,” he said and added, “Oshkosh’s blended offering of virtual and realworld training is the first of its kind for the U.S. military’s tactical wheeled vehicle fleet.”

Oshkosh believes in the potential of the virtual training domain in its programs, and is looking to take a portion of the information that’s currently being taught in the classroom and moving it out on to the shop floor. “The virtual task trainer is a great way to do that. We put instructional videos onto a laptop and bring that same laptop from the classroom alongside the trucks,” Koga said. Indeed, Oshkosh is currently analyzing all company vehicle maintenance tasks to determine which tasks fit the media profile for making more training available on smartphones and tablets so they are more readily available.

Yo u r Pa r t n e r f o r S i m u l at i o n a n d

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Koga also imparted some suggestions for the second- and third-tier companies which may furnish Oshkosh with future learning technologies for its global courses. “The success of mobile training will be very reliant on a learning management system. With this system, customers can access training via their phone or tablet anywhere in the world. In the near future, customers could complete the classroom portion of a training track such as the overview of the product training ahead of time via video and/ or e-learning modules. The student could then focus more hands-on training time to troubleshooting and repair procedures of specific systems in a training shop environment,” he pointed out. This effort could narrow a comprehensive vehicle training course from weeks to days, he suggested. “The right blend of solutions for each customer training can differ, and Oshkosh is continually working to save customers time and money by using a learning management solution to its fullest capabilities.”

DiSTI's soon to be released Engine Shop App. It's an upgrade to the company's current Virtual Engine App that features the same marine diesel engine found in the U.S. Army landing craft.

Image credit: DiSTI.

Tr a i n i n g

Other Innovation In one near-term development, DiSTI is working on a major update to the Virtual Engine App which was expected to be released as this issue was published.

“Enhancements on the Virtual Engine App will include the ability to make In App purchases to enable new engines and lessons,” Ariotti said.

DiSTI is also planning on an Android release of the App. “Think about it. For certain types of training (obviously nothing with classified or ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) restricted data) the warfighter could just log into the Apple App Store or Google Apps Marketplace, and purchase their training materials for the price of a decent lunch,” Ariotti concluded.

Embedded training was one of the earliest forms of “mobile training” within the military vehicle – important for tasks the maintainer does not perform frequently. Oshkosh’s Koga indicated this training concept remains important to his company. “We are integrating Technical Video Instructions into our training, manufacturing and maintenance operations process at the Oshkosh Product Training Center to improve task comprehension, build in quality of learning and increase understanding of tasks after first pass.” mst

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Training Technology

NATO’s TLP – Live and Constructive Combining the best of live flying and constructive generated training is the goal of the Tactical Leadership Programme. Major Bram Remmelzwaal, Royal Netherlands Air Force, writes.

T

he North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been conducting live flying training in mixed fighter force operations since 1978 when NATO nations in central Europe had the desire to improve the capabilities of their air forces, by training realistically, and developing tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) for operating in multi-national air operations. That year Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the USA started the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) at Fürstenfeldbruck in Germany. Since that time TLP has grown with the addition of Denmark, Italy, Spain, Greece and France. In 2009 TLP moved to its current home, Base Aérea Albacate in Spain.

The Base Aérea Albacete is a two and half hours car drive East of Madrid in the interior of Spain. Albacete is the capital of the Castilla De La Mancha region. Just five kilometres south of the city centre is BA Albacete, co-located with the national airport of Albacete.

A TLP Flying Course typically lasts 4 weeks. In November, TLP Flying Course 2012-6 saw participating aircraft from Italy with Tornado’s and EF2000’s, Belgium with F-16’s, France with Mirage 2000N’s and Super Étendards, Poland with F-16’s, the United Kingdom with Tornado GR4’s, the USA with F-16CM’s and Spain with F-18’s.

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Spanish Air Force Colonel Enrique Martinez Vallas, an experienced F-5, C-101 and F-18 pilot, is the current commandant of TLP and states “TLP’s goal is to keep the training offered the best NATO has.” All participating aircrew plan their missions together and utilize the capabilities of the individual aircraft types to fulfil the missions as tasked by the TLP staff. Col Vallas underlines this aspect of the multi-national and multi disciplinal operations: “Flying is fine, but planning is the basis, this in combination with a good debrief following the flying is paramount”. Much time is put into these integral parts of the mission.

The TLP-staff strives to get the best out of their student aircrew.

The TLP-staff consists of front-line pilots and navigators, but also command and control, ground based air defence, intelligence and electronic warfare officers and specialists. They come up with

USAF pilots prepare for a training mission during the Tactical Leadership Program, January 2013.

Image credit: USAF/ Lausanne Morgan.

the tasking and direct and assist during planning and debrief of the missions. The staff members typically rotate every three years, thus keeping the knowledge and skills fresh from the operational front line units.

This year lessons learned from NATO’s operation over Libya, “Operation Unified Protector” (OUP), are used to keep the training current and beneficial and Col Vallas notes “New techniques like adding Link 16 is part of the provided training opportunities. The interaction during the mission by utilizing Link 16 is important as demonstrated during the Libya operation and today’s TLP missions continue on that track.” Major Bonifacio ‘Bono’ Baca of the U.S. Air Force supervises the TLP Link 16 system operations at Albacete. The Warrior Preparation Center (WPC) of the United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE), based in Germany, provides the current system. The six U.S.personnel attached to TLP are Detachment 1 of the WPC. The Link 16 suite is the Tactical Communications Group Battlefield Operational Support System (BOSS). According to Maj Baca, “BOSS allows TLP staff to be a Link 16 player and to offer constructive training for participating aircrew in live air operations. We have real aircraft with real pilots, but also operators on the ground, injecting air, ground, and surface data to enhance training. The added value is that we can realistically replicate training for aircrews that is normally offered by other aircraft or ground-based platforms, but are not always available for TLP.” Speaking about scarce assets such as Command and Control platforms e.g. E-3 AWACS, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, like UAV’s, Baca notes “These aircraft are normally available during air campaigns and by simply adding them (simulated) in Link 16 they can provide their critical battlefield data, albeit constructively. Participating pilots see the information generated by the notional entities as in the real world.”

BOSS is an interim system for TLP, as TLP will procure its own Link 16 system. Vallas says “The goal is to fully exploit Link 16 and a study is done to assess the needed amount of opera-

tors, but also their required skills.” He continues, “TLP is still in the research phase. This year we invited other companies to show their equipment, like NATO Programming Centre with their CSI Link 16 simulator and France based Diginext with their TACTX suite. We are not in the procurement phase yet, we first need to write a program of work based on mission needs. We hope that the TLP-steering group and nations will make a final decision in June 2013 on the hardware as well as the addition of operators. It is our goal to reach Initial Operational Capability in 2014.” For the time being TLP is happy with their borrowed BOSS-suite.

During TLP Flying Course 20126, Netherlands Army First Lieutenant Ruud Hermans and Army Warrant Officer Dirk van Velzen of the Netherlands National Data link Management Cell (NDMC) and Royal Netherlands Air Force Lieutenant Pascal Kwaks of the Dutch Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) were present at Albacete. They were operating BOSS and assisting the TLP-staff with generating constructive training during the flying missions.

Warrant Officer van Velzen: “The joint NDMC is utilizing Link 16 simulation for generating realistic training during live flying exercises, but also during testing periods and the CRC during daily training. The Netherlands NDMC has a lease contract with TCG for their

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Training Technology BOSS-software and as such we deploy BOSS on frequent bases in the Netherlands. The help out of the NDMC was requested by the TLP commander and the Netherlands Air Force responded by sending teams to the TLP Flying Courses in 2012.”

Lieutenant Hermans, as an Army GBAD officer, is enthusiastic about being an operator during the TLP Flying Course and getting an operational insight of ‘the other side’ he often battled in exercises. “This closes the circle of experience”. Warrant Officer van Velzen opined that with constructive training imagination is the limiting factor, illustrating with an example: “TLP had equipped a car with GPS, simulating an offensive target. We manually updated its received GPS-position on BOSS via Link 16 to the fighters as it was sent by a constructive J-STARS ground surveillance platform. The updates were given till the sensors of the tasked fighter acquired the car as target. It worked great and the aircrew were enthusiastic. We can even send imagery via Link 16 on what the target looks like.

This all in order to get the most realistic training, just as during real air campaigns.” In regard to the Dutch support, Col Vallas elaborated, “It is not easy to find well trained Link 16 personnel.

Their support is very practical, they help us out on BOSS and in between the missions they advise us on Link 16 matters and thus helping us shaping TLP for its future.”

Maj Baca states “This is only the start, we want training at TLP to be at the leading edge, therefore we need to implement new technology.

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and Control units supporting us. We are now conceptualizing how to do this. If AWACS is not participating, we need a Recognized Air Picture from the Spanish Air Force Ground Environment. We also want simulated threat systems of our own.” TLP is dependant on support of individual nations and units when it comes to SAM-systems, threat emitters, simulating various radar systems to challenge participating aircrew and Tactical Air Control Parties (TACP’s) to interact with TLP fighters.

Elaborating on the way ahead, Col Vallas stated “For the new technology we follow three routes. The first was to get an Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (ACMI) real time tracking and monitoring system. We now have a contract with Diehl BGT Defence a German company. The second route will give us the air picture and add new radio’s to communicate with airborne assets. The third is to get realistic threats and that will be a combination of real live (actual SAM-systems), virtual (i.e. emulators and simulators) and constructive (via Link 16).”

With the constant addition of new technology, NATO’s Tactical Leadership Programme will be able to stay in touch with real world operations and on the leading edge of flying training with a focus on tactics and leadership. mst

493rd Fighter Squadron participated in the multi-national Tactical Leadership Program earlier this year.

Image credit: USAF/ Lausanne Morgan.

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Living History

Duxford and the Warbirds In issue 6-2012, Dim Jones reported on training for the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, a unit formed, in the words of the current Chief of the Air Staff, to be “very much part of both the RAF’s and the Nation’s heritage... and... kept in the air as a living memorial to those who have gone before.” He now visits Duxford.

S

ome 80 miles south of Coningsby lies the former Battle of Britain airfield at Duxford, at that time home to fighter squadrons of 12 Group and Douglas Bader’s ‘Big Wing’. Duxford is now home to the air element of the Imperial War Museum; however, alongside the IWM’s static displays, several small companies - the Aircraft Restoration Company, The Fighter Collection, the Old Flying Machine Company and the Historic Aircraft Collection, to name but a few - ply a trade which has a lot in common with BBMF – the restoration, maintenance and flying of historic aircraft. Although there are many other companies, syndicates and individuals scattered around the UK engaged in similar activities, it can undoubtedly be said that Duxford is the spiritual home of ‘warbird’ flying in UK. However, whereas their core aim – the safe operation of vintage aircraft

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– may be the same as for BBMF, their specific objective, the operation of WWII aircraft in a civilian environment, and the challenges it presents, are subtly different. BBMF is a publicly-funded military organisation, staffed and run along Service lines, for which display flying, and the sustainment of the RAF’s legacy, is the raison d’être. The Warbirds are owned and operated by commercial companies, private individuals or syndicates. They may be displayed or operated for financial recompense – to offset the considerable cost of flying and maintaining them – but they are overwhelmingly flown by enthusiasts for pleasure, their own and that of the public. However, to suggest that any of this is done other than extremely professionally would be both insulting and untrue.

So how does an aspiring Spitfire pilot go about achieving his or her dream?

Generally speaking, there are 2 principal

avenues to flying one of these machines.

You may be lucky enough to own it yourself, which generally takes a lot of money; or you fly it with or for someone who does and has. However, neither route absolves you from the requirement to undergo proper graduated training, with a view to gaining the required experience and licensing. There are a few Warbird aircrew who are serving or retired military aviators, although not as many as one might think; of these, some will have flown vintage aircraft in military organisations such as BBMF or the Royal Navy Historic Flight (the Fleet Air Arm equivalent). Others will have made contacts through the ‘display circuit’; however, although their experience – and certainly of flying powerful and relatively sophisticated aircraft - may be greater, the disparity between modern front-line aircraft and their vintage forebears means that military pilots are

not that much better placed than their civilian counterparts when it comes to mastering the techniques required to operate the latter.

The majority of those who fly vintage aircraft on the civil register are, therefore private or commercial pilots. Either way, and even if their day jobs are at the front end of a 747, they may well have started their flying careers in flying clubs. This will almost certainly have involved time on single-piston aircraft and, for this reason, tailwheels, propellers, rudder bars which are more than footrests, and aeroplanes without all-round visibility from the cockpit, are the norm rather than the exception. True, a Spitfire is a bit more of a handful than a Cessna 180, but the principles are the same, as is the principle of graduated training, from a light tailwheel aircraft like a Chipmunk, Cub, Tiger Moth or Stearman, through something heavier and more powerful, like a Harvard, to the Warbird itself.

Permit-to-Fly

Above Spitfire TMkIX. Right Training progression – Stearman and Harvard.

Image credits: Author.

So how is this activity regulated? Unsurprisingly, in the UK, the regulating authority is the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and it has its counterparts in other countries. ‘Ex-military aircraft or replicas thereof’ with either: a Maximum Total Weight Authorised (MTWA) in excess of 2730Kg; a piston engine with a rating of 800 hp or more; or a turbine or turbojet engine, are generally operated on a ‘Permit-to-Fly’, rather than a Certificate of Airworthiness. This covers nearly all of the sorts of aircraft we are talking about, and the relevant ‘bible’ is Civil Aviation Publication

(CAP) 632. CAP 632 covers all aspects of owning, operating and maintaining an aircraft on a Permit-to-Fly. This includes guidance and regulation on Organisational Control, Specialised Equipment and Systems, Pilot and Crew Qualifications, Technical and Operational Requirements and Recording and Audit Procedures.

Pilots wishing to operate Permit-to-Fly aircraft must hold a civil licence, with the appropriate class or type rating or, where no such rating exists, a CAA-granted exemption. All SingleEngine Piston (SEP) types can be flown on a SEP class rating, with endorsements for ascending levels of complexity, such as retractable undercarriage and variable-pitch propellers. Pilots undergoing conversion will require a further exemption, which will be granted only when the CAA and the person responsible for the training (normally the Chief Pilot of the appropriate organisation) have agreed a training syllabus; the Organisational Control Manual (OCM) will detail the minimum experience required to commence training. Pilots wishing to fly highperformance propeller-driven aircraft, or any jet aircraft, will require ‘conversion, refresher and technical training’, which ‘will be assessed on an individual basis. Pilots who have little

M S & T M A G A Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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Living History or no military jet or high-performance piston-engine experience will invariably be required to undergo rigorous and detailed conversion training including, where appropriate, specific aviation medicine training.’ On completion of training and testing, a full exemption to the requirement for a class rating will be issued, renewal of which is conditional on maintenance of agreed levels of currency. Although the CAP gives some guidance on recommended experience levels, essential training requirements and dual checks, the emphasis is definitely on a syllabus agreed on a case-by-case basis, reflecting the performance and complexity of the aircraft to be flown, and the experience and ability of the individual trainee. Civil operators have one advantage over the BBMF, in that there are several 2-seat Spitfires around, mostly Mk IXs, so that the learning curve may be rendered a little less precipitous.

As regards equipment, the CAA expects ‘that the aircraft will be operated as far as possible to the standards used in military service.’ and that specialised systems, such as oxygen, pressurisation, ejection seats, flying clothing, emergency and back-up systems, brake-parachutes, and external fuel tanks and pylons should be serviceable, and ‘operated in accordance with the instruction manuals used whilst in military service’. The Operational Requirements section gives guidance on some aspects peculiar to the operation of Permit-to-Fly aircraft, such as: airspeed and g limitations; ejection seats, the policy for their use, and associated flying clothing; high speed and low level flight; and flying with jettisonable external stores.

It recommends some essential training requirements, and encourages owners and operators to ‘take into consideration the age, the rarity value and the need for continued preservation of an aircraft’ when imposing any additional limitations on themselves.

Restoration and Maintenance Turning to maintenance for a moment, British Civil Airworthiness Requirements (BCAR) are published by the CAA, and CAP 553 Chapter A8-20 details the specific requirements for the ‘Approval 38

M S & T M A G A Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

of Organisations Responsible for the Restoration, Airworthiness Control and Maintenance of Aeroplanes and Rotorcraft of Military Origin’. Like CAP 632, the guidance is comprehensive, and includes: the qualification and experience requirements for nominated personnel, both technical and management, to include sub-contractors; organisation co-ordination; quality systems, technical accommodation, equipment; and publications and technical records. Again, in common with CAP 632, maintenance programmes are agreed between the organisation and the CAA on an individual application and approval basis, and ‘the maintenance programmes and schedules should, where possible, be based upon the original aircraft documentation and must account for the original servicing elements and additional CAA requirements’. Aircraft engineering personnel are licensed and regulated by the CAA under Part-66, which ‘provides a common and mutually acceptable standard across EASA member states’. Like their aircrew counterparts, licences are issued in various categories, and supplemented with Type Ratings, which allow the holder to work on a specific aircraft type, subject to the appropriate training and assessment.

The restoration and maintenance of vintage aircraft is a specialised business, and most definitely a ‘labour of love’; it often involves the repair of components which are no longer available in new or restored form, or the bespoke manufacture of a new part, either from technical drawings, or by using a life-expired, damaged or corroded part as a template.

Although one might expect this area to be the domain of the more elderly technicians, when I visited the Aircraft Restoration Company, I was encouraged to find that their technical staff included some very young people (by my standards, anyway!). The common factor across the age spectrum is that they all clearly love what they do. The ARC is an acknowledged leader in its field, and apart from the daily maintenance of various types, including several marks of Spitfire, aircraft undergoing overhaul or restoration included an OV-10

Above Major surgery on Lysander and OV-10.

The bicycle is not being refurbished.

Right Bespoke Engineering – This is one I made earlier.

Image credits: Author.

Bronco, a Lysander, and the second of the BBMF’s Hurricanes.

ARC provides many of BBMF’s spares and, at the end of the 2013 display season, the BBMF Lancaster (PA474) will receive a major servicing in a specially constructed hangar at ARC’s Duxford facility.

pilots must hold the appropriate DA, and operate in accordance with it; failure to do so can result in a warning from the FDD, and serious infringements may merit exclusion from the display, referral to the CAA, and recommendation for the withdrawal of DA. In seeking to regulate civil display flying, the CAA faces a much more disparate task than the supervisors of the tightlycontrolled RAF displays – a large number of pilots, of varying experience and competence, flying a wide variety of aircraft in events ranging from a flypast at a local fete to the Royal International Air Tattoo. CAP 403 does its best to rise to this challenge, and the CAA staff responsible – many of whom are Warbird or display pilots themselves – are most supportive. There are concerns – currency can be an issue, especially for those who are lucky enough to fly several different types of aircraft, and those who operate within the more regulated environments such as Duxford, with the attendant peer evaluation, are easier to police than individuals operating in isolation. The instructors, DAEs and FDDs are key to the success and safety of the activity, and it is important that they are both appropriately qualified and themselves current in their respective activities. Another concern is that few of the pilots, and none of the aircraft, are getting any younger; mercifully, there seems to be a steady stream of more youthful aspirants, and the odd restored aircraft, to bolster the ranks. It is to be hoped that this vastly emotive and enjoyable activity will continue unabated and in safety, for the joy of the participants and the entertainment of the public. mst

On Display Returning to the flying side, many of the vintage aircraft are involved in display flying, not only because it shows the aircraft off to best advantage and provides a public service, but also because it can offset the considerable cost involved in owning and running such machines, and is a lot of fun. Display flying is also regulated by the CAA, this time through CAP 403, issued by the Safety Regulation Group, which gives a clue as to the main aim of the document. Both civil and military display flying are covered by Article 162 of the Air Navigation Order, and the regulations clearly need to be compatible, since many flying displays involve both civil and military aircraft. A pilot wishing to display an aircraft must apply to a CAA-appointed Display Authorisation Evaluator (DAE), who will mentor the applicant through a programme of training in display manoeuvres, and education in the special demands of display flying. On successful completion of the approved programme, the DAE will recommend the issue of a Display Authorisation (DA), based on the applicant’s experience and ability; CAP 403 designates 4 levels of competency, each with its associated permitted manoeuvres, and gives comprehensive guidance on the DA process and such issues as display currency and formation flying. An initial DA is specific to an aircraft type, is valid for 6 months, thereafter renewable annually, and can be upgraded to reflect increased experience.

Anyone wishing to organise a flying display must apply to the CAA, who will appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Flying Display Director (FDD), who is responsible for the safe and proper conduct of the display. At larger shows, the FDD will be assisted by a Flying Control Committee. All display M S & T M A G A Z IN E 2 . 2 0 1 3

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L-R: Keynote speaker LtGen Karlheinz Viereck; Conference Chairman Prof Dr Stefan Wolfgang Pickl; Wolf Rauchalles, General Manager DWTSGW; Walter F. Ullrich, MS&T Europe Editor.

Image credit: Elke Ullrich.

Conference Report

DWT-SGW Hosts M&S Forum In response to keen demand, after a three-year break the Centre for Studies and Conferences (SGW), an affiliate of the German Association for Defence Technology (DWT), once more included M&S in its conference schedule. Walter F. Ullrich reports.

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n 13 and 14 March 2013, about 250 top experts, mainly from Germany, gathered in Bonn-Bad Godesberg City Hall to learn more about the current status of M&S, and to discuss prospects and opportunities that contribute to the capability profile of the German Bundeswehr.

Apparently, a massive information backlog had built up during the recent nonconference years. As a result, apart from the plenary lectures four focused subject areas had to be set up that ran in parallel in two conference streams.

Professor Dr Stefan Wolfgang Pickl, Head of Operations Research at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, chaired and introduced the event. He gave an overview of the development of holistic analysis and simulation of complex and dynamic systems over the past 50 years, stressing the ever-increasing importance of system dynamics for risk management today.

The plenary sessions addressed fundamental aspects related to the use of modelling and simulation for decision support in the armed forces. A preliminary conclusion drawn from lectures and discussion was that although policymakers know that tools and appropriate methods exist, they are reluctant to base decision-making processes on scientific 40

analyses. Another plenum topic which was given much space was the system demonstrator VIntEL, the Bundeswehr’s M&S flagship. This distributed and integrated test bed provides the opportunity to test and trial innovative ideas or technological solutions relevant for networkcentric operations.

One of the highlights of the event was the keynote given by LieutenantGeneral Karlheinz Viereck, Deputy Chief of Staff Joint Force Training at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, on “e-NATO”, the new architecture for teaching and training within NATO. Because it is online, transparent, in realtime, efficient, effective and affordable, the new concept has all the prerequisites for maximising education and training processes in NATO. The four conference streams comprised presentations on training for operation and analysis support. Serious gaming, live simulation and live-virtual integration were also addressed. In retrospect, the need to run sessions in parallel turned out to be an advantage. Attendees could thus tailor the event to meet their individual needs.

“Strategic planning requires a reflected understanding of setting the right goals and being aware of changing circumstances,” noted the forum’s chair-

man. “This forum demonstrates that Modelling & Simulation as part of Operations Research is just at the beginning”, he added.

As with previous DWT conferences, attendees were pleased with both the presentations and discussions. The small exhibition which accompanied the forum was also well received, and a large majority voted in favour of holding the M&S forum every two years. At the end of the day, what counts is the value that modelling and simulation can add to the decision-making level – something that long-standing observers already noted three years ago – that marked the success of the forum.

Fifteen exhibitors showcased their technologies at the DWT forum: Antycip Simulation - independent modelling and simulation COTS tools, projection systems and related engineering services; eurosimtec - simulating the actual usage of real-time solutions to uncover problematic areas; Fraunhofer FKIE systems that support the military command and reconnaissance process; IABG - advanced applications of high technology and science, regarded as the thinktank of the Bundeswehr; Presagis - COTS modelling, simulation, and embedded graphics solutions; Krauss-Maffei Wegmann - training and simulation systems for land-based vehicles and weapons systems; Rheinmetall - leading provider of training solutions in Germany; Riedel Communications - real-time networks for video, audio, data and communication in mission-critical applications; RTDynamics - high fidelity flight dynamics modelling and simulation software and consultancy to military training and aerospace engineering; RUAG Defence - services and products for the defence and security industry; Saab AB - leading Swedish aerospace and defence company; Telespazio VEGA Deutschland - engineering, simulation and modelling, training solutions; tms – technology transfer initiatives; TrianGraphics - 3D landscapes, 3D models and real-time visualization; and tukomGEO - distributor of Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. mst

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World News & Analysis

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

TRAINING DEVICES & SERVICES CAE has won a series of contracts valued at approximately C$130 million. CAE is to develop an MH-60R avionics maintenance trainer and weapons load trainer for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) under the United States foreign military sales program. CAE USA will be the prime contractor responsible for the design and manufacture of the MH60R AMT/ WLT that will be delivered in 2015 to HMAS Albatross, located near Nowra in New South Wales. CAE is also currently under contract to develop two MH-60R tactical operational flight trainers (TOFTs) for the RAN. Lockheed Martin has exercised a contract option for CAE to design and manufacture an additional C-130J weapon systems trainer for the US Air Force as part of the C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System Phase II program. The simulator will be delivered in 2016 to Little Rock Air Force Base and used by the US Air Force Air Mobility Command for initial qualification, refresher and distributed mission training.

The US Army Corps of Engineers awarded CAE USA a foreign military sales contract to construct a training facility for the Kuwait Air Force at Al Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait. The two-bay training facility will house a KC-130J full mission simulator that CAE is currently under contract to design and manufacture for the Kuwait Air Force.

The US Air Force awarded CAE USA a contract, including options, to perform operations and maintenance 42

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support for KC-135 Boom Operator Weapon Systems Trainers (BOWST) as part of the KC-135 aircrew training system program. CAE USA will incorporate the training devices into the overall KC-135 training program and provide maintenance support for the new devices. This initial contract for the first year of operations and maintenance is valued at more than $5 million. Annual KC-135 BOWST maintenance support contract options for the remaining seven years of the KC-135 ATS program are valued at approximately $50 million.

SOGITEC Industries has been awarded a contract for the production of an NH90 Medium Range Training Device (MRTD) by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter D&D Production and Logistics Management Agency). The device is to be delivered to Finnish Army Aviation. The MRTD will be installed at the Army Aviation base in Utti, south-eastern Finland. The device is enhanced with dynamic 3D-motion seats to render 3D-motion cues. SOGITEC's Sindbad™ database generation system is also part of the delivery.

Thales UK and Airbus Military have signed an 18-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to supply training services for the A400M Atlas, the Royal Air Force's nextgeneration military transport aircraft.

The training services will include the design, construction and management of the A400M Atlas training school, the installation and maintenance of full flight simulators and all synthetic training equipment, and support to the RAF's own course design team and training staff. The training school will be built at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, with work planned to complete in spring 2014. The school will train a range of aircrew and groundcrew in how to operate and maintain the RAF's 22 A400M aircraft. The contract and associated simulator orders are expected to sustain up to 300 long-term jobs, principally at RAF Brize Norton and at Thales UK's facility in Crawley, West Sussex, where the simulators are being built, and also in Airbus Military.

ZelTech Training Solutions, LLC, has won a contract from the US Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to produce a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) training capability for the Republic of Armenia. The contract calls for production and deployment of the ZelTech Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (ZMILES) suite of tactical engagement simulation products for dismounted infantry and various vehicles. This includes ZMILES production, new equipment training in Armenia, and two years of contractor logistics support.

CAE has won a series of service and upgrade contracts valued at approximately C$90 million. The company will perform upgrades on US Navy MH-60S operational flight trainers and weapons tactics trainers to increase training system fidelity as well as maintain concurrency with current aircraft upgrades. CAE was also recently awarded one-year contract extensions by the German Armed Forces to continue providing on-site maintenance for flight simulation equipment.

CAE’s annual support service contracts with the German Armed Forces covers the maintenance of flight simulators for fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters. CAE has engineers and technicians at more than 20 sites in Europe to maintain almost every flight simulator in service with the German Armed Forces.

Delft Dynamics, a manufacturer of unmanned helicopters, has introduced its Universal Simulation Platform for Unmanned Systems (USPvOS). Using this platform, ground stations from unmanned systems can be linked directly to VSTEP's RescueSim using High Level Architecture (HLA), allowing virtual training of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Using HLA, RescueSim is made fully interoperable with the real UAV ground station control system, and allows for real-time visualization of the UAV’s behaviour.

Applied Visual Technology, Inc. (AVT Simulation) has won a five year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) $45.8 million contract to upgrade the US Army PEO STRI Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Reconnaissance/Attack (RA) helicopter trainers. The AVCATT training system consists of 23 suites and three Systems Engineering Environments (SEEs) fielded in the United States and abroad. Each suite is capable of simultaneously training six flight crews in any combination of AH-64, OH-58, CH-47 and UH-60 type aircraft. Multiple AVCATT suites can be networked together to provide a collective training environment for a variety of simulated reconnaissance, attack, utility and cargo missions that include friendly and opposing semi-automated forces. AVT Simulation will design, develop, integrate, test and deliver software and equipment to bring the AVCATT AH-64 and OH-58 trainers up to fleet physical and functional configurations.

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World News & Analysis VISUAL SYSTEMS/SOFTWARE Barco and projectiondesign® will share two stands at the ITEC 2013 exhibition in Rome, Italy. At their booths, themed as "joining forces" they will demonstrate their combined offering for visualization and training.

"Since Barco announced the completion of acquisition of projectiondesign in February, technology users will benefit from an unrivalled level of technical expertise and specialist knowledge of the industry's most comprehensive and largest visual systems product offering," explained

Peter De Meerleer, Director, Strategic Marketing, Training and Simulation at Barco. Stand G100, the main stand, will showcase the breadth of the two companies' newly combined projection offering, while a smaller booth at Stand G140 will be dedicated to Night Vision Goggle (NVG) simulation. Highlights on the main stand will include three projectiondesign F22 DLP® projectors operating in portrait mode and integrated with RSI Visual Systems' Raster xT image generator to form a 4m curved screen for helicopter simulation with increased vertical field of view (FOV); a pair of Barco SIM 7Q

HB LCoS projectors showing daylight flight simulation content, from CAE; and several FL35 ReaLED™ projectors with solid-state illumination, also arranged as a curve to show armoured-vehicle content provided

by Cursive Simulation using VBS2 software from Bohemia Interactive.

MASA Group has announced the launch of MASA LIFE, its new AI middleware.

MASA LIFE is an intuitive, adaptable AI middleware allowing developers of games, serious games and simulations to make their non-player characters more realistic and smarter. Thanks to its behaviour modelling disruptive

MFTC Report The 12th annual Defence IQ Military Flight Training conference took place in London from 11 to 13 March 2013. An attendance of around 150 delegates from 25+ nations confirmed this as the flagship event in the military flight training conference calendar; in particular, and especially in the current climate of budgetary constraint and restrictions on travel, it was good to see a strong USAF contingent, ably led by MGen (Select) Scott Vander Hamm in the absence of Gen Edward A Rice, Commander Air Education and Training Command, who was detained by duties in the US. In contrast to recent smaller conferences, most nations appeared to be represented by SMEs, rather than by Embassy staff. The wide range of sponsors included the heavy hitters in the provision of flying training platforms – AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, BAE Systems, Beechcraft, Boeing and Lockheed Martin – and the even mix of military and industry, to the almost total exclusion of academia, pointed to a practical, rather than theoretical, theme in the provision of flight training.

The US T-X (T-38 replacement) programme was a major and recurrent thread throughout the conference, not least because of its sheer size and scope. Notwithstanding the admitted and increasing difficulties in keeping T-38 in the air, the official in-service date for T-X is now ‘no later than 2023’, the slip to the right being caused by budget profile issues with F-35 and the new tanker aircraft, more recently compounded by sequestration.

The progressive delays have allowed Boeing to cast their hat into the ring, with a proposed new-build aircraft, although those anticipating any significant disclosures on this were destined for disappointment. Boeing will have learned from their off-the-shelf competitors, and from the evolving USAF requirement; the makers of the 3 current contenders – the BAE Systems Hawk, the Alenia-Aermacchi M346/T-100, and the Lockheed Martin/KAI T-50 will also be considering how they might develop what they were originally offering to reflect the 5+ year delay. The procurement authorities would welcome open dialogue with industry, but are unable to down-select too early. Until then, industry is in internal competition, and plays its cards close to its chest.

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Whichever system is selected may be required, in time, to train for 6th- and possibly 7th-generation aircraft, let alone 5th.

Downloading (the transfer of elements of training from expensive to less expensive aircraft) and offloading (transfer from live to synthetic flying) was a recurrent theme. With a quoted cost per flying hour of $37,000 for a 5th-generation fighter, $3700 for a modern trainer, and $370 for a full-motion (and –mission) simulator, it is easy to see why, although some doubt was expressed that tasks thus transferred would actually result in syllabus reductions and cost savings.

Intriguing as it may be, T-X was not the only show in town, and delegates were entertained by presentations on the training issues facing nations such as Austria - with a front line of 15 Typhoon manned by a pilot strength of 16 requiring a turnover of just 1.5 pilots per year – to the Philippines, whose air force has been required, during a continuing internal struggle spanning more than 4 decades, to police an archipelago of 7107 islands with a population of 90 million and a coastline of over 22000 miles. Unsurprisingly, the demands of such an action have drained resources which had been intended for a modernisation programme.

Pilot selection criteria and procedures proved another topic for lively debate, with opinion on the utility of psychological, physiological and aptitude screening varying widely. An interesting perspective was provided by Starlite Aviation, a rotary-wing training company in South Africa, one of whose students was a Namibian goatherd (albeit with some elementary education) who had never been in an aeroplane until he was flown to South Africa, and never been in a car until he was driven to the airport; he is now a helicopter pilot with the Namibian Police Force.

Lastly, this year’s quotable definition: Contextually Relevant Cognitive Development = (in aircrew-speak) Max Bang-for-Buck Brain-training.

Defence IQ’s Military Flight Training remains a very rewarding 3 days for anyone involved in this field of endeavour. – Dim Jones

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World News & Analysis workflow, LIFE is designed to increase the productivity of game developers and non-technical professional users requiring highly realistic and adaptable intelligent behaviors.

SIMETRI, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) for the research and development of an Interoperable Common Scenario Repository for medical training. The effort seeks to explore and prototype hardware and a software application that standardizes scenarios for diverse Army medical training. Once accepted, the application will provide a centralized repository for validated medical training scenarios that will be interoperable with all medical training devices such as human patient simulators and desktop games. The overall goal of the effort is to lower barriers to the creation of new medical training content by the Army medical community for use on existing and future training technologies.

Blue Newt Software and Calytrix Technologies have integrated Blue Newt’s Blue Sprocket Engine and PixelTransit image generator with Calytrix’s LVC Game. Calytrix’s LVC Game interface software provides third-party products with DIS/HLA connectivity, permitting serious training in distributed simulation and training environments. Blue Newt Software’s Blue Sprocket Engine is a fully modern rendering and simulation pipeline for serious developers. PixelTransit is a high-performance clustered image generator built on top of the Blue Sprocket Engine. With LVC Game, Blue Sprocket Engine and PixelTransit users can now participate in small to very large scale, DIS/HLA-based, distributed simulations with other Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) participants.

Flight Simulation Conference

MISSION TRAINING AND FLIGHT SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY, CONCEPTS AND COLLABORATION LONDON / 12 - 13 JUNE 2013 This flight simulation conference will provide an insight into mission training needs and solutions.

The conference will provide a reminder that ‘mission training’ is not solely a military topic and will draw on a range of expertise from a wide spectrum of specialists. www.aerosociety.com/events Sponsors

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AIR FORCE CAE Australia has completed a comprehensive visual system upgrade for the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) C-130J full flight and mission simulator (FFMS) located at RAAF Base Richmond. The FFMS was upgraded with the latest generation CAE Medallion-6000 image generator as well as Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) high-resolution projectors and displays. In addition, the simulator now incorporates the CAE-developed common database (CDB) technology.

The US Air Force has selected VT MÄK’s interoperability products for use on the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training Toolkit (AFMSTT) program. The MÄK tools include the new MÄK WebLVC Server, VR-Exchange, and MÄK Data Logger. The AFMSTT system enables training of senior commanders and staff for joint air warfare and operations. MÄK's tools will be used to help migrate the AFMSTT system to a service-oriented architecture based on High Level Architecture (HLA) interoperability and web technologies.

CAE is to provide the Royal New Zealand Air Force with a Beechcraft King Air 200 ProLine 21 CAE Simfinity™ virtual simulator (VSIM) classroom and B200 computer-based training (CBT) in support of the Interim Advanced Pilot Training Capability (IPTC) project. Under terms of a five-year lease that includes an additional five-year option, CAE will install and support the VSIM classroom at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

FlightSafety International has been selected by the United States Air Force to provide the Aircrew Training System for the KC-46 military aerial refuelling and strategic transport aircraft. FlightSafety will design and manufacture KC-46 Weapon System, Boom Operator, and part task trainers at its simulation facility in Oklahoma. The weapon systems trainers will feature FlightSafety’s industry leading technology, which includes electric motion and control loading and visual systems with all-new glass mirror display technology.

The Commonwealth of Australia has awarded CAE a contract to provide maintenance and engineering support services for the Royal Australian Air Force's AP-3C Advanced Flight Simulator (AFS). CAE Australia will provide the onsite maintenance and support services for the AP-3C AFS, which is located at RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide, South Australia and used to train RAAF aircrews. In addition, CAE also expects to provide a range of simulator upgrades, including a comprehensive upgrade of the visual environment.

Lockheed Martin has received a $253 million contract agreement to begin work on F-15SA pilot and maintenance training systems for the Royal Saudi Air Force. The technologies will provide a comprehensive ground-based training environment for Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA modernization program. Pilots will complete air-to-air combat, air-to-surface missions, air combat maneuvers and tactical intercepts with 360-degree full mission trainers. In a first for F-15 training, the systems will feature a single dome over the dual-seat cockpit to enable crew coordination training. Lockheed Martin will also deliver egress, avionics and desktop trainers for procedure training by pilots. For maintainers, Lockheed Martin will

provide virtual systems which will include basic maintenance, landing gear and arresting hook, armament, flight controls and jet fuel starter trainers. Lockheed Martin will deliver the training systems by 2020.

Australia's Department of Defense has given BAE Systems Australia a contract for aviation technical training services. The contract is for five years and worth nearly $111 million. "This contract means that BAE Systems Australia will train about 900 students annually at the RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW," said Minister for Defense Materiel Dr. Mike Kelly.

"The contract is for initial training for technicians and maintainers for all aviation-related trades, and a range of postgraduate courses, for aircraft and helicopters operated by Army, Navy and Air Force." Kelly said the new contract give BAE a high level of autonomy and responsibility for the delivery of the training that will be introduced in a "contemporary"

Sundog Software has released version 2.0 of its Triton Ocean SDK, which adds realistic 3D coastal and shoreline effects, rotor wash effects, and impact effects to Triton's capabilities. "Having shorelines with waves that grow upon approach and water that becomes transparent near the shore lends extra realism to coastal scenes,� said Frank Kane, founder of Sundog Software. “Games and simulations alike want to disturb the water surface with things like helicopter rotors, propellers, bullets, and torpedos. Triton 2.0 makes that all possible, with real 3D waves and spray effects."

training environment supported by modern training systems. BAE Systems Australia has sub-contracted the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Pennant Pty Ltd in support of the work.

ARMY The US Army has selected Lockheed Martin to design an advanced simulation-based training system that will ensure Army, joint and coalition

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World News & Analysis leaders are prepared to act decisively in the evolving operational environment. The Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability (JLCCTC) system will support training exercises that replicate complex operational scenarios to prepare commanders and their staff to direct military operations.

The contract has a $146 million ceiling value over five years. JLCCTC integrates seven current command and battle staff training tools into a single system and presents simulated enemy and friendly forces so commanders and their staff can practice making decisions during high pressure missions.

Meggitt Training Systems has won delivery orders worth US$7.9m since December 2012, to support the US Army's Targetry Systems program with TACOM, the Army’s Contracting Command in Warren, Michigan. The program is part of an effort to provide equipment for live-fire training ranges at US Army installations worldwide.

Meggitt will deliver some 1100 infantry and armor units, both stationary and mobile.

AAI Test & Training has received a task order from the US Army PEO STRI for 52 Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) systems, including production and testing, under the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Omnibus Contract II. AAI’s MAST uses a LED, ultraviolet emitter threat simulator to replicate the launch characteristics associated with infrared Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), supporting live training exercises for aircrews addressing surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats. MAST is interoperable with the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System, resulting in a threat declaration in the aircraft cockpit. It can simulate a SAM engagement sequence including seeker lock and break lock capability, based on environmental and situational conditions. The MAST is capable of interfacing with a weapon effects simulation system to emulate the visual launch signature of a MANPADS and signify the location where the MAST was fired.

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Two CC-130J full-mission simulators built by CAE for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) have been certified by Transport Canada to Level D. The two devices are located at the new Air Mobility Training Centre (AMTC) at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, just east of Toronto. CAE is the prime contractor for the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) program, under which the company is providing a comprehensive aircrew training capability for Canada's CC-130J and CH-147F aircraft. At the new AMTC, CAE and its pan-Canadian team of subcontractors are delivering a full suite of CC-130J academic and synthetic training systems to be used for qualification, conversion, refresher, and mission rehearsal training. CAE will also provide 20 years of in-service support for the AMTC in Trenton.

Craig Technologies has been selected as a prime contractor for the US Army’s Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Combined Arms Products for Distributed Learning (CAPdL) program IDIQ contract. The company will provide the Army Training Support Center (ATSC) with a range of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) Test & Evaluation support in accordance with TRADOC’s Systems Approach to Training (SAT) process.

TRADOC is responsible for the implementation of the Army’s continuing objective “to produce a coherent, integrated education and training system and strategy to ensure soldiers and units are trained to meet Army needs.” Craig Technologies supports TRADOC’s mission by contributing to Concepts and Operations for Space and Mission Defense Integration Capabilities (COSMIC) Research, Development, and Application of Current and Future Operational Environments.

NAVY Stratom, Inc. has announced its involvement in the training of Marine Corps personnel. The training will be part of the Marine Corps’ comprehensive Counter Improvised Explosive Device CIED) pre-deployment training program.

Stratom will provide combat engineer instructors and subject matter experts with the skills, education, experience, and expertise required to teach individual and collective tasks required for operations in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) environment.

A group of four Royal Navy Observer students have become the first to graduate from the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) after completing their training at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose. It was the culmination of several

World News & Analysis months of training at RNAS Culdrose and Royal Air Force Barkston Heath for the four officers, with exercises carried out in Grob Tutor 115 and Beechcraft King Air 350ER 'Avenger' T Mk1 aircraft. The pinnacle of the training is the multi-task phase where all previous learning is tested in fluid, rapidly changing airborne and simulated exercises that stretch the students' skills to the limit. The four will now go on to the RN's Lynx helicopter Operational Conversion Unit.

The US Navy, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) has licensed CryENGINE® from RealTime Immersive Inc. The Navy will use CryENGINE to build a virtual representation of each class of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and courseware for train to qualify, train to certify, operations, maintenance, troubleshooting and ship familiarization. The LCS courseware, being developed by Cubic Simulation Systems, will leverage the CryENGINE® license. The courseware will be about 10,000 hours and be developed over the next five years for the LCS1 variant, LCS2 variant and LCS Mission Packages.

The South African Navy has unveiled a new periscope simulator system to train submariners that was built with the help of Cybicom Atlas Defence. The simulator, which will also help the navy research and develop new technology for its submarines, is a result of collaboration between the navy and the defence industry that started during the acquisition of South Africa’s Type 209 submarines, first ordered from Germany in 2000. The system includes a replica of the attack periscope, suspended from the ceiling of the training room, with the same controls, motion and functionality of the real unit, and an instructor workstation. Student sailors and submariners will be able to use real images of the vessels traversing the harbour to test their skills.

Australia’s Minister for Defence Materiel, Dr. Mike Kelly, has opened the training facility built by BAE Systems for future crews of the Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs). The LHDs are the largest ships ever to be built for the Royal Australian Navy, and which are currently under construction at BAE Systems Williamstown shipyard. Originally a warehouse, the 4,000 square meters of space at Mascot has been transformed into a purpose-built, state-of-the-art base for the training needs of future LHD crews and will house simulated training suites, LHD ship-fitted equipment, classrooms, a common room and a fitted-out area for the instructors and Australian

Thales’ “Koblenz Day” Focuses on Networked Security Thales Germany, the Thales Group’s third largest national subsidiary, recently held its “Koblenz Day”, the company’s traditional in-house exhibition for the eleventh time. Named after its venue, the city of Koblenz, the event was held on 17/18 April on the premises of the Bundeswehr’s Technical Centre 41.

The two-day event attracted some 500 experts, mostly German military or armed forces civilian staff, as well as specialists from transport, security and disaster relief services. In his welcome speech, Peter Obermark, CEO of Thales Germany, explained that the event was neither a sales event nor an occasion for signing contracts. It is conceived as a platform for customers, users and decision-makers to meet and chat with carefully-selected product makers and to listen to top-notch presentations.

In fact, the products and services featured on the 1,000 square metre exhibition area were not limited to Thales Germany but came from all Thales’ companies. They included Defence, Security, Transportation, Aerospace and Space, i.e.

Thales’ full bandwidth. Contrary to the 2011 show, this year’s event did not focus on individual items, but showed solutions in which various products worked together in netted scenarios, 50

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along the lines of the event’s motto: Networked Security.

Thales Germany’s simulation products met with great interest. The arms and tactical training simulation system SAGITTARIUS-Evolution, which offers a portable common platform for different training modules (e.g. basic shooting skills, land, air and marine equipment, Joint Fire Support Team), was showcased in Koblenz. The presentation set-up featured CryENGINE3, one of the fastest high-end renderers for very real video simulation, and 3D optical motion capture provided by Motion Analysis Corporation. A further improvement on SAGITTARIUS might be the integration of a technology where players move freely in any direction inside a virtual environment.

Thales’ navy activities on show in Koblenz included a presentation of the full warship trainer (FWST). This modular simulation, which will be realised together with Transas Marine International, will be the first of its kind to create a virtual simulation of an entire warship for training purposes. The solution encompasses the ship’s control from the bridge, work in the engine room, Combat Management System training, realistic door gunner exercises for helicopter missions and weapons training for boarding teams. – Walter F. Ullrich

L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has won a contract from the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to build two UH-60M operational flight trainers (OFTs) for the Taiwan Army similar to those used on the US Army’s Flight School XXI program. The first OFT will be delivered to Taiwan Army’s Shinshou Training Facility and be ready for training during the fourth quarter of 2014 as the service begins to receive its initial UH-60M helicopters. The second OFT will begin training pilots during the first quarter of 2015. Under a one-year contract, with an option for a second twelve months, L-3 Link will also provide contractor logistics support to maintain the simulators and support equipment.

Defence Force personnel who will work from the centre. More than 700 personnel will be trained over the next two and a half years. The facility can also be used for follow-on training and Through Life Support Training as well as managing and conducting future training needs for the ADF, Command Team Training and further RAN/ADF training.

The US Navy has purchased 38 UFA Air Traffic Control tower simulator system (ATC-TSS) devices and the first one has been installed at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. The simulators are scheduled for delivery at 34 Navy and Marine Corps installations and will replace the existing Tower Operating Training System (TOTS). The new system, developed by UFA, Inc., supports individual or team training and has both out-of-the-window and binocular views. The product offers 3D graphics with simulated weather information, airfield lighting and integrated radar displays, as well as simulation of other key tower systems. Another capability includes a photo-realistic airport database for each site and moving models that prepare air traffic controllers to choreograph reallife aircraft movement.

The New Zealand Cabinet has authorized the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) to enter into a $120 million contract with Kaman Aerospace Corporation for the purchase of ten SH-2G Super Seasprite aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support.

The SH-2G Super Seasprite is a proven day/night/all-weather multi-mission helicopter and was designed to meet the exacting requirements of the US Navy. It has the highest power-toweight ratio of any maritime helicopter, according to Kaman, assuring a safe return-to-ship capability even in single-engine flight conditions.

The United States Navy has declared an MH-60S "Sierra" operational flight trainer (OFT) updated by CAE as ready-for-training at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island near San Diego, California. CAE completely upgraded the MH-60S OFT, originally manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was completely upgraded by CAE to add new technologies and ensure concurrency with other MH-60S training devices as well as the operational MH-60S helicopters. The technology refresh and updates to the OFT included the addition of motion seats, upgraded image generator visual system, and a new Barco CD2260 visual display system. CAE also performed significant engineering updates to re-architect the hardware and software computing designs to bring this MH-60S OFT to a common architecture with the Navy’s suite of CAE-built MH-60S training devices.

IATA Training and Qualification Initiative (ITQI)

Improving Training Provision - Conference London • 05-06 June 2013 For more information and registration details:

In partnership with:

www.aeorsociety.com/ITQIConference or www.iata.org/events

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World News & Analysis Company News Saab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for training and simulation system collaboration with Brazilian company Anacom, a supplier to the Brazilian Defence Forces.

The co-operation is to evaluate and

support activities to jointly supply Virtual Training and Simulation systems or similar systems to Brazilian.

Brazil is an important growth market for Saab, and with this partnership Saab can deliver key next generation technical and military capabilities providing for national autonomy in future

design, development and operation.

Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) has acquired TerraSim®, Inc. the developer of TerraTools®.

The mutual customers of BISim and TerraSim can expect significant capability enhancements as a result of this merger. For example, BISim

ANA MSFV Training In May 2011 Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS) received an award for full-rate production of 240 Mobile Strike Force Vehicles (MSFV) for the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) along with associated support equipment, spare parts, field service representatives, training and training aids. Last June the New Orleans-based company was awarded a third option contract, bringing to 440 full-rate production vehicles the company will deliver. The company also manufactured 18 test MSFVs and 41 low-rate initial production vehicles in 2011, for a total of 499 vehicles ordered to-date.

The vehicle is part of the equipping strategy to allow the ANA to better assume security responsibilities from the International Security Assistance Force as it relinquishes its combat role in the nation through 2014.

What makes the MSFV contract of particular interest is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is leading a militaryindustry effort to deliver a full spectrum of operator and crew training to a customer at war. TM&LS, as the OEM, reports it is on schedule to deliver MSFVs to seven ANA Kandaks (battalions).

Each Kandak is programmed to receive about 58 vehicles. The vehicles, as national strategic assets, will be positioned in Kabul and Kandahar as well as other strategic locations.

The MSFVs began arriving into Afghanistan last February.

Two MSFV-equipped Kandaks have completed the vehicle training program outlined below. Of the two units, one is operational with the second preparing to report to its operating base. A third Kandak is in the MSFV training pipeline.

Brian Feser, the company’s vice president for Strategy and Communications and its director for Afghanistan Operations, explained the MSFV training occurs at Camp Pol-e-Charki (in Kabul). “This is where our base of operations is out of, and is colocated at Afghanistan’s National Military Training Center.”

Prospective ANA operators and maintainers initially complete two distinct training tracks, the Operator New Equipment Training (OPNET) and Field Level Maintenance New Equipment Training (FLMNET), in a two month period.

The OPNET program provides instruction on every facet of the vehicle, from changing a tire to changing a power pack, to making turret adjustments. “So while we teach them everything about the vehicle, most importantly, we teach them how to drive the vehicle.” Feser pointed out the OEM’s strategy to provide ease of operation and maintenance in this vehicle class generates dividends in the training programs. “Anybody with very little instruction can learn how to drive these vehicles just like you drive your own car. On the maintenance side, we teach the operator at 52

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the battalion level, just like a maintainer at a battalion anywhere in the US military, the basic maintenance standards (-10, -20, and -30 US DoD levels). The -40 standards are at the depot level and we teach that on the specialty level.”

FLMET courses are enabled by high-fidelity, life size training aids which are cross sections of the power pack and other vehicle components. “The soldier can actually touch and feel the device. What they basically do is go from a PowerPoint slide to hands-on instruction, back to a briefing and then to hands-on instruction,” Feser said.

After completing the OPNET and FLMNET courses, the ANA MSFV training audience advances to two months of collective training at the service’s armor school. At the facility, French military instructors, supported by TM&LS subject matter experts, deliver training on the vehicle’s weapons, dismounted tactics and other topics.

TM&LS also provides training on some of the vehicle’s government furnished equipment. “This is something that as an OEM we would normally not do. But we have the expertise, the guys down range, and so we’re doing those things as well, which adds to the credibility of the program,” Feser pointed out.

Other courses comprise the ANA MSFV training curriculum.

A train-the trainer-course “enables the Afghans to ultimately utilize their own instructors to teach the entire class,” Feser said.

The company’s field service representatives are the mentors and are there to help facilitate. “The train-the-trainer approach is written into the plan so that they feel a sense of pride and ownership.

With this pride in ownership, and a direct hands-on approach, the Afghans will be much more likely to properly maintain their vehicle fleet so that the vehicles will last a long time,” he added.

Feser also remarked the MSFV program is “‘the full package’ – from operator to field level to training,” And he noted, “We also teach them to establish the supply management system – the integrated logistics system.”

ANA MSFV courses are taught in English, Pashto and Dari.

TM&LS uses 37 interpreters to support the program’s instruction.

On the program’s horizon is the expansion of MSFV training to two Afghan special operations force battalions, as these units accept delivery of the vehicle. Afghan SOF MSFV training is scheduled to begin this spring.

The TM&LS-led industry team, led in Afghanistan by John Simpson, the program manager, includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services (a Textron Systems company), Reed and US Logistics. The military-industry team expects to train about 2,100 ANA MSFV program personnel prior to June 2015. – Marty Kauchak

is working to fully support PhysX by Nvidia Apex Destruction within VBS2, and TerraTools will add procedural generation of high-fidelity VBS2 destructible buildings, bridges, and tunnels to support increased runtime training fidelity. Using TerraSim's recently developed annotated urban environment (AUE) capability, BISim will leverage procedurally generated pattern-of-life annotations to support realistic entity behaviors within VBS2.

BISim will continue to work closely with TerraSim to improve the visual fidelity of procedurally generated features created by TerraTools.

The Board of Directors of Virtual Edge Incorporated have announced the launch of business operations in Orlando in May 2013. A production/ assembly facility will also be opened in New Mexico later in the year. The new company specializes in modeling and simulation hardware and software for serious training applications.

The core product offering satisfies needs for full immersion training

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For training of its Sigma Class Corvette bridge personnel, the Indonesian Navy and Ministry of Defence has selected VSTEP to supply two Class A NAUTIS full mission bridge (FMB) simulators for its Kobangdikal marine training facility in Surabaya. Each simulator has a 270 degree field of view projected on a cylindrical screen. The Indonesian Navy also ordered five custom built ports, and customised navigation screens. In addition to the two FMB simulators, two NAUTIS instructor stations and two NAUTIS desktop training simulators have also been installed at the premises.

requirements that require actual human motion for the user interface with the training simulation. Both gross and fine live human motions are tracked and translated into a variety of networked software visualiza-

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Virtual Edge is developing specialized training products for military, law enforcement, and security force maneuver training (mounted and dismounted) as well as maintenance

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MEdSim is the world’s only magazine for education, simulation and training of medical personnel.

MEdSim highlights best practices and new innovations to improve patient care and reduce costs for healthcare organisations.

Each issue includes inspiring articles by thought leaders in Patient Safety, Robotics, Curriculum Design and Development, Assessment as well as Simulation and Training.

Advertise in MEdSim to reach medical simulation and training professionals.

The next issue of MEdSim magazine will be published on 16th August.

Advertising booking deadline 29th July.

Please contact your local representative: Europe, Middle East and Africa – Chris Richman Tel: +44 (0) 1252 532007 – Email: chrisrichman@halldale.com USA & Canada – Justin Grooms Tel: 407-322-5605 – Email: justin@halldale.com Latin America and the Caribbean – Willem-Jan Derks Tel: +56 9 7987 6808 – Email: willem@halldale.com Asia Pacific – David Lim Tel: + 65 9680 5251 – Email: davidlim@halldale.com

Subscribe online from only US$20 at

halldale.com/medsim MS&T MAGAZINE 2.2013

53

World News & Analysis and operation of Oil, Gas and Power Generation activities, medical applications and more.

The US Small Business Administration Region IV Administrator Cassius Butts has announced the winners of SBA's 2013 State of Florida Small Business Week Awards. "The talent of the professionals who competed for Small Business Week in SBA's North and South Florida districts was extremely impressive," said RA Butts.

"Small business success is alive and well in Florida and these winners are great examples of that success."

Elizabeth Burch, president of Dignitas Technologies, Inc. (Orlando) has been named the State of Florida Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

CAE has appointed Ms. Denny Brisley to the newly established position of Director, Washington, DC Operations.

She will serve as the senior executive for CAE in Washington, DC, supporting the Defense and Security business unit and other company business liaison efforts and government relations.

Before joining CAE, Ms. Brisley was a senior intelligence market development executive at SAIC, served as a Highly Qualified Expert at the Office of Secretary of Defense, and as Director of Maritime Domain Awareness at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. She has also served as a senior civilian in multiple posts at the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Cubic Corporation has appointed Dave Schmitz as president of Cubic Defense Applications (CDA). He succeeds Brad Feldmann, who was recently promoted to president and chief operating officer of Cubic. Most recently, Schmitz was vice president and general manager of Cobham Sensor Systems involved in technology applications supporting a variety of critical military platforms and systems.

Halldale Group has announced the retirement of long time MS&T Europe Editor Walter F. Ullrich. Walter has decided to put much more effort into his leisure activities and travel; however, he assures us that he will drop in to MS&T from time to time. mst 54

MS&T MAGAZINE 2.2013

Index of Ads

Calendar

AgustaWestland www.agustawestland.com 17 Alenia Aermacchi www.aleniaaermacchi.it 4 Bohemia Interactive www.bisimulations.com 7 CAE www.cae.com OBC Concurrent Real-Time www.real-time.ccur.com 23 Dytecna 28 www.dytecna.com Eurosatory 2014 www.eurosatory.com 41 FlightSafety International www.flightsafety.com IFC HAVOK.com 25 www.havoksimulation.com I/ITSEC www.iitsec.org 45 ITEC www.itec.co.uk/mst 35 KMW – Krauss-Maffei Wegmann www.kmwsim.com 20 & 21 Kongsberg www.kongsberg.com 19 L-3 Link Simulation & Training www.L-3com.com 11 Laser Shot www.lasershot.com 33 MEdSim Magazine www.halldale.com/medsim 53 MetaVR 13 www.metavr.com PDM Training and Consultancy www.pdmtc.co.uk 34 projectiondesign www.projectiondesign.com 43 RAeS www.aerosociety.com 46 & 51 Raydon www.raydon.com IBC Reiser Systemtechnik 9 www.reiser-systemtechnik.de RGB Spectrum www.rgb.com 15 Rheinmetall Defence www.rheinmetall-defence.com/simulation 30 & 31 SAAB 3 www.saabgroup.com ScreenSim.Net 16 www.screensim.net Simulation Training Directory www.halldale.com/directory 47 T3 – Low-Cost Training Trends & Tech. Seminar www.t3web.org 49 Thales www.thalesgroup.com 29 Theissen Training Systems www.theissentraining.com 27 TrianGraphics www.triangraphics.com 37 Virtual Edge www.virtualedgeinc.com 39

Simulation & training events organised by Halldale Group 17-18 September 2013 APATS 2013 – Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium Centara Grand Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand www.halldale.com/apats 29-30 October 2013 EATS 2013 – European Airline Training Symposium Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany www.halldale.com/eats 13-15 May 2014 WATS 2014 – World Aviation Training Conference & Tradeshow Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Orlando, Florida, USA www.halldale.com/wats

Other simulation & training events 12 June 2013 Mission Training and Flight Simulation London, UK www.aerosociety.com/events 17-23 June 2013 Paris Air Show Paris, France www.paris-air-show.com 12-15 August 2013 AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2013 Washington, D.C., USA www.auvsishow.org 18-19 September 2013 Military Flight Training London, UK www.smi-online.co.uk

Advertising contacts Director of Sales & Marketing Jeremy Humphreys [t] +44 1252 532009 [e] jeremy@halldale.com Sales Representatives USA (West): Pat Walker [t] 415 387 7593 [e] pat@halldale.com USA (East) & Canada: Justin Grooms [t] 407 322 5605 [e] justin@halldale.com Europe, Middle East & Africa: Chris Richman [t] +44 1252 532007 [e] chrisrichman@halldale.com Asia Pacific: David Lim [t] +65 9680 5251 [e] davidlim@halldale.com South America: Willem-Jan Derks [t] +1 954 406 4052 [e] willem@halldale.com

experience

For close to a decade now, CAE has been the prime contractor responsible for providing the United States Navy with comprehensive MH-60S and MH-60R training systems, including operational flight trainers and weapons tactics trainers. These fully integrated training solutions are providing the Navy with the cost-effective synthetic training required for pilots, co-pilots, and sensor operators of both the Sierra and Romeo helicopters.

As the Navy prepares to increase the level of simulation-based training for aircrews and perform a technology refresh on its helicopter training systems, trust a company that has proven its ability to deliver world-class simulation solutions on-schedule. Our technical approach and vast experience on the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R simulators will ensure concurrency and low risk as the Navy continues to prepare its helicopter aircrews for mission success.

CAE – the U.S. Navy’s proven and experienced partner for helicopter simulation and training.

one step ahead

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milsim@cae.com cae.com

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