MS&T Magazine - Issue 5 2013

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I n t e r n a ti o n a l

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Volume 30 • Issue 5.2013

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Training Systems

C-130 Training National Focus

The Czech Republic – University of Defence Interview

Col. Meletios Fotinos, Chief, AFMMAST Training Technology

Low Cost: COTS and Targeted Fidelity

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ISSUE 5.2013

Editorial comment

A Concentrated Mind "Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully" - James Boswell's Life of Johnson.

Yes indeed! So it does. In the immediate aftermath of I/ITSEC 2012 we noted that the threat of sequestration and budget constraints, the imminent fiscal cliff, was indeed concentrating the mind – of the Services. They had immediately begun harvesting the low hanging fiscal fruit, like travel, in anticipation of the fiscal storm – resulting "...the market in a 20% drop in attendance.

They called for innovation, and that initiatives for essential be seen to improve readiness in a tangible way and as Dr. Laura Junor stated, “be very clear in training value added”. The Hon. Frank Kendall emphasized that the DoD must do everything it can to execute effectively – “to extract full value from the capabilities will money with which we are entrusted.”

Exhibitors were much more relaxed, seemingly continue, but confident that the logic of M&S in adding training value would carry the day, and that the US travel both the need constraints were a bonus – only the really qualified and important delegations showed up. and the buying Were we fooling ourselves with cautious optimism? Perhaps. The fiscal threat has mateenvironment are rialized. Sequestration was not averted. Budget constraints are defining a new military posture; in transition...” programmes are shifting to the right and existing resources are being restructured and reorganized.

All this at a time when world political events would suggest the maintenance, or even increase, of core capability and readiness would be prudent.

Never the less, as the world struggles with the economy, the tension between entitlement and defence spending continues to shape strategy, capability and readiness in the US and many other nations.

Coping in this environment requires adaptivity and agility, qualities scalable Jeff Loube from the individual to the organization.

Managing Editor The I/ITSEC 2013 theme Concepts and Technologies: Empowering an Agile Force embodies this need and the role of industry in maintaining effective forces. As NTSA President, RADM Robb states in the I/ITSEC 2013 Preview, “The need for Industry and Government to come together to discuss and debate requirements and capabilities has never been stronger...”.

I continue to believe that the market for essential training capabilities will continue, but both the need

and the buying environment are in transition, a transition marked by continuous change, with no end state in sight. What is sure is that the Services need demonstrable ROI as they exploit technology to close “readiness” gaps, and that the market is more competitive, demanding value, service and low risk.

There has been some industry consolidation and a readiness to seek new domains and markets.

Companies that are adaptive, agile, seek and deliver value to clients are likely to thrive in this new business environment. And finding value is important to those exhibiting and attending I/ ITSEC. Value is there, but it has to be realized.

There are many sources for strategies to get the most out of trade shows or conferences. The number of lost souls I have observed idling in booths or wandering the conference hall wracked with indecision about what presentation to attend makes one wonder if these sources are ever consulted.

Old hands will tell you that creating value starts with preparation well before the event and have already started their detailed preshow activities.

Preparation is important and cannot be overemphasized.

As the baseball philosopher, Yogi Berra is purported to have said, “You gotta be careful if you don't know where you're going, otherwise you might not get there”. You do need to know what you and your company would like to achieve.

Define quantitative objectives that will form the basis for your planning, execution and post event evaluation.

Determine who you need to meet, what technology you need to explore, what presentations will resonate with your needs. Contact targets well before the show.

In the presentations, conference delegates should look for key takeaways – separate the content from the actionable. But be prepared to mine the circumstantial. Benefits are often found in the seams of the show experience. So in addition to having a plan, one needs to be flexible. All in all, you must ultimately make sure that the show serves your needs as best it can.

Enjoy the show – and wring out all the value you can.

Jeff Loube, CPT MS&T Managing Editor

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jeff@halldale.com MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

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Contents

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ISSUE 5.2013

08

12

MS&T Magazine Military Simulation & Training Magazine

19

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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Advertising Director of Sales Jeremy Humphreys

& Marketing t. +44 (0)1252 532009

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& Africa e. chrisrichman@halldale.com Sales & Marketing Karen Kettle

Co-ordinator t. +44 (0)1252 532002 e. karen@halldale.com Marketing Manager Ian Macholl t. +44 (0)1252 532008 e. ian@halldale.com

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Operations

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05 A Concentrated Mind. Managing Editor Jeff Loube reflects on the military S&T business environment and I/ITSEC 2013.

08 Training Systems - C-130. The C-130 has evolved through the J model, so too have the training systems and technologies. Group Editor Marty Kauchak reports.

12 The Czech Republic – University of Defence. Walter F. Ullrich reports on this child of military and political transformation.

16 Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training. MS&T spoke with Col. Meletios Fotinos, Chief of the AFMMAST program 19 Targeted Fidelity. EDA’s Interim Support Helicopter Tactics Course (ISHTC) meets a training need within a challenging budget. MS&T’s Dim Jones visited the course.

22 Mark McGraw. MS&T speaks with Boeing’s VP of Training Systems and Government Services, Global Services & Support.

On the cover: CAE is responsible for the design, development and manufacture of most of the C-130J simulators for the JMATS programme Image credit: CAE.

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Halldale Media Group

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24 Bold Alligator 13. Leveraging synthetic environments to train operational headquarters. Group Editor Marty Kauchak reports.

26 RAF Boulmer. This is the hub of the UK’s Aerospace Surveillance and Control System. MS&T’s Dim Jones writes.

28 I/ITSEC 2013. The editors of MS&T preview what is arguably the most important military S&T exhibition and conference in the world.

30 Command Ops: Battles for Greece. Michael Peck reviews Panther Games’ June 2013 release.

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

Compiled and edited by Fiona Greenyer.

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MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

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Training Systems

C-130 Training Enhancements Aspiring and current aircrews and maintainers of C-130 aircraft in the US and in other nations benefit frrom new technologies and other training enablers, reports Group Editor Marty Kauchak.

T

he C-130 is ubiquitous. All told, Lockheed Martin has delivered 2,446 C-130s (models A, B, E, H (including 115 L-100 variants) and J) to customers in 63 nations; with C-130s flying under the flag of 65 countries.

This July, Lockheed Martin noted that 15 nations from around the globe had ordered 337 of its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Stephanie Sonnenfeld Stinn, a corporate program spokesperson, added that Lockheed Martin had delivered 292.

While the C-130J’s strong sales in the military transport sector are touted, the significant training system advancements for the J model and the legacy E and H variants, for international customers and other military end users in the US, have been mostly unheralded.

USAF C-130 E/H/J Program Update Vic Torla, the Program Director at Lockheed Martin Integrated Training Solutions, noted his industry-led team was awarded two contracts – one in 2011 and one in 2012 – to provide the US Air Force with new C-130J training devices and 08

M S & T MAGA Z INE 5 . 2 0 1 3

engineering services over the next several years for the C-130J Aircrew Training System (ATS). The ATS combines the JMATS (J-model Maintenance and Aircrew Training System) and ATARS (Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support) programs.

The key partner on Lockheed Martin’s-led team is CAE, responsible for the design, development and manufacture of most of the C-130J simulators and training devices for the JMATS program. As this issue was published CAE had delivered 33 different training devices, from high fidelity Weapons Systems Trainers (WSTs) to lower level trainers, to the Air Force and another US military customer.

Chris Stellwag, CAE’s program spokesperson, noted his company also “provides the on-site maintenance and logistics support services for the various C-130J training devices located at USAF bases such as Little Rock Air Force Base, which is the [service’s] main schoolhouse.” The Tampa, Florida-based industry veteran highlighted another division of responsibilities between the companies when he noted “Lockheed Martin provides the classroom and simulator

instructors as part of the training support services package.”

Lockheed Martin also furnishes all courseware and delivers an array of other hardware and support for Air Force C-130 learning audiences.

One vendor, FlightSafety, furnishes image generators for the training devices and display systems.

The Air Force aircrew training program consists of 45 syllabi covering more than 79 courses for the C-130H and C-130J. The courses produce 1,800 aviators annually, for the US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard, international partner nations and the Air Force; to include airlift, special operations, rescue, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units.

Lt Col Jerry Mish, the Operations Officer at the 714th Training Squadron, told MS&T the majority of the qualification courses rely on a “building-block” approach with increasing levels of technical and mission complexity.

The Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas-based 714th Training Squadron manages the $(US) 1.05 billion C-130 ATS and JMATS contracts, and oversees

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

Image credit: James Richardson/ U.S. Air Force.

the above mentioned training syllabi and their supported specialized graduatelevel flying training courses.

Mish noted “Training relies on front-loading traditional academics, computer-based courseware, ground training, and events in aircrew training devices of varying fidelity. These courses are then polished off through actual sorties and events in the respective aircraft trained.”

The program official also quantified the amount of pilot training enabled by learning technologies. “The full C-130J pilot qualification course lasts 21 weeks, with nearly 300 hours of academics, 50 hours in low fidelity devices, 100 hours in full motion Weapons System Trainers (26 aircraft simulators [missions]) and 30 hours of aircraft flight (nine sorties),” he explained.

The C-130J loadmaster qualification course lasts nearly as long as the one for aircrew members. Mish pointed out the majority of training occurs in a fully operational mock-up of the aircraft cargo compartment called a FuT (Fuselage Trainer). Loadmaster candidates hone their skills in loading and offloading different types of airdrop loads and cargo, airdrop and emergency procedures, as well as refining preflight and normal procedures in the device. “The final portion of loadmaster training also occurs on the flight line, consisting of eight sorties with emphasis on low-level airdrop,” the service training professional said.

From pre-flight inspections to replacing multimillion dollar engines, Air Force maintainers are provided with state-of-the-art training for C-130 E/H/J airframes, mirroring the trend for their operational counterparts. TSgt David Giles, the Assistant First Sergeant at the 373d Training Squadron, Detachment 4, told MS&T the recent shift from the legacy E/H models to the newest C-130J model has prompted a massive refocus in technical school and field training. “Here at Detachment 4, we are tasked with accomplishing Air Force Specialty Code awarding training for C-130 crew chiefs. The introduction of the J-model has driven us to adapt – we have developed new courses to train US Air Force and international maintainers alike. All of our existing legacy training

aids have been upgraded or, if needed, replaced to accommodate the training needed,” Giles said, and added, “For example, the landing gear trainer now has been modified with one J model brake system, and one legacy brake system to allow for dual-purpose training. These modifications ensure maintainers receive the most up to date training as the USAF transitions to the J model.”

Efficiencies The Air Force and Lockheed Martin report the continued migration of operational training hours into the C-130’s family of learning devices, reducing operational hours on the aircraft for training missions and providing other efficiencies. This development is in lock-step with other service aircraft training systems. Editor’s note: See report in Seen & Heard on the recent developments in the US Air Force C-17 training system program (page 33).

“With a focus on affordability both the JMATS and ATARS Program reduce the Air Force flying hour requirements by offering high fidelity immersive training on the Weapon System Trainers,” Lockheed Martin’s Torla emphasized.

The Air Force’s Mish further commented on C-130H/J initial qualification training, adding that in general, no more than 15 percent of each initial qualification course is accomplished in the actual aircraft. “This is true for both weapons systems trained and all four aircrew positions: pilot, navigator, flight engineer, and loadmaster,” he said.

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Training Systems Downstream USAF Developments This year, Lockheed Martin partnered with the Air Force under the JMATS program to set up a new C-130J training site for Air Mobility Command at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Training is expected to begin at this this location in early 2014.

During the next 12 months, accession aircrews for the C-130 H and J will be introduced to new and enhanced learning technologies. Major Andrew Kraemer, a C-130H Training Flight Commander at 714th Training Squadron, previewed some of the products and systems.

Kraemer’s list included: • SCNS PCST (Self Contained Navigation System Personal Computer Self Teach) (C-130H), an interactive software program which mimics the SCNS of that model aircraft; • Experimental Common Immersion Theater Environment to improve the threat generation capabilities in the simulator and enable the Air Force's vision of Distributed Mission Operations; and • adding Digital Radar Land Mass Systems to program simulators.

Kraemer also noted that along with adjusting and updating courseware for recurring items such as manual and regulation changes, his training organization’s largest curriculum upgrade is the integration of the Consolidated Airdrop Tool, Version 2 (CAT II). “This software

program is used to plan all C-130H airdrop missions and provides computer modeling to ensure more precise aerial delivery. Integrating the change will result in extensive rewrites of our navigator and pilot courses,” he added.

The training officer further reported that unspecified C-130J and C-130H WSTs are going through a visual system upgrade to replace dated projectors with FlightSafety’s VITAL X visual systems.

Jimmy Murphy, the C-130J Contract Officer Representative at the 714th Training Squadron, told MS&T that Joint Precision Air Delivery System upgrades to all aircraft simulators will enable integration of the mission-set into qualification and refresher courses for pilots and loadmasters.

Back at Lockheed Martin, Torla noted his busy industry-led team is also working with Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command to set up MC/HC-130J operations at several new locations under the ATARS program, supporting search and rescue and special operations mission training.

Lockheed Martin is working with Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command to set up MC/HC-130J operations, including the Weapons Systems Trainer, at several new locations under the ATARS program.

Image credit: Lockheed Martin.

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MC-130J Commando II prototypes are also being modified to AC-130J Ghostriders as part of a $2.4 billion AC130J program to grow that future fleet.

The first Ghostrider is expected to be completed late this year.

“We are also involved with the current and ongoing design of that aircraft’s [AC-130J] mission systems and the training system,” Torla added.

CAE reported in late August that its delivery ledger for WSTs to support Air Force special operations and conventional forces’ C-130 crews included: • an HC/MC-130J WST for Air Combat Command, at Davis-Monthan AFB, in 1Q 2014; • an HC/MC-130J WST for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), at Cannon AFB, in 1Q 2014; • an HC/MC-130J WST for Air Combat Command, at Kirtland AFB in 1Q 2014; and • a C-130J WST for Air Mobility Command (AMC) at Dyess AFB in 1Q 2014.

All told, the company has 10 training devices on order with AFSOC and another three with AMC.

International Since 2007, more than 1,100 aircrew and maintenance personnel from 46 countries have been trained at the Air Force’s Little Rock C-130 Training Center of Excellence. Currently, the school hosts military members from 10 countries,

to include Israelis, Afghans, Iraqis and NATO partners.

Torla’s Integrated Training Solutions’ organization’s expanding portfolio has added India and other recent customers.

While part of the training solution was to deliver a CAE WST to Hindan Air Force Base last December, the Lockheed Martin team is collaborating with the Indian defense customer to establish wider ranging training services. Torla noted that while his company has its C-130J aircrew instructors on the ground at Hindan air base to train Indian Air Force air crews, other aspects of the training system continue to evolve.

CAE remains a significant industry player in other nations’ C-130 training systems’ programs.

In addition to the Indian Air Force’s WST, the company has delivered more than 20 other training devices to C-130 end users in Australia, Canada, Italy and the UK. With respect to the Canadian military customer, in 2009 CAE was awarded a contract by the Government of Canada as prime contractor on a program called the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) program.

As part of the OTSP program, CAE is under contract to develop and deliver a comprehensive training capability for Canada’s new fleets of Lockheed Martin CC-130J Hercules and Boeing CH-147 Chinook aircraft. Stellwag updated

CAE’s progress on this contract. “We have delivered all the C-130J aircrew and maintenance training devices to the new Air Mobility Training Centre at Canadian Forces Base Trenton and have now commenced 20 years of in-service support,” he added.

NGRAIN is a subcontractor to CAE on the CC-130J maintenance training program.

As part of a US foreign military sale program, the US Navy and US Army Corps of Engineers placed CAE under contract earlier this year to develop a KC-130J full-mission simulator and new training facility for the Kuwait Air Force.

CAE is also meeting the challenge of refreshing and upgrading technology in its fielded, international training devices. Earlier this year CAE Australia completed a comprehensive visual system upgrade for the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-130J Full-Flight and Mission Simulator (FFMS) located at RAAF Base Richmond.

The RAAF C-130J FFMS was upgraded with the latest generation CAE Medallion-6000 image generator as well as Liquid Crystal-on-Silicon, highresolution projectors and displays. In addition, the RAAF C-130J FFMS now incorporates the CAE-developed common database technology, which is an open database architecture that is rapidly updateable and enables correlated distributed mission training. mst

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National Focus

By Teaching We Learn Docendo discimus – it was the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca who provided the motto and guiding principle for the Czech University of Defence (UoD) in Brno. Walter F Ullrich writes.

T

he institution was established less than a decade ago in September 2004. The Czech Republic was in the final phase of being integrated into Western world structures such as NATO and the European Union. There was so much to be done: the choice of the motto docendo discimus (by teaching we learn) could not have been more apropos.

The University of Defence (UoD) was founded as a direct consequence of the country’s accession to NATO, marking the end of a strenuous, decade-long transformation process during which Cold War structures – both psychological and organisational – were abolished and the armed forces modernised and standardised. Education was regarded as the driving factor in a continuous process that ensured interoperability with NATO allies. Three military education institutions that existed at the time were absorbed by the new establishment: the Military University of the Ground Forces Vyškov, the Military Academy Brno and the Military Medical Academy Hradec Králové. Each of these military education institutions had to modify its internal structure so that it matched the planned single institution. In the end, each of the three schools became a faculty within the new university. The establishment of the new university was part of the restructuring and streamlining process within military education in the Czech Republic. It happened in line with the Czech Armed Forces Reduction Programme and its transformation from a conscript into a fully professional organisation, which also took place in 2004/5.

The UoD in Brno is an essential element of the wider Czech military education system that also comprises the Military High 12

MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

School and Higher Technical School of the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Language Institute and the Training Command – Military Academy, the Agency for Planning and Development of Human Resources, and a military sports chair at the Charles University in Prague. According to Colonel Professor Engineer Martin Macko, Vice-Rector for Science and Research, “The UoD is one of the top 30 academic institutions in the Czech Republic.” The university’s primary mission is to propagate literacy, development of thinking and independent scientific research on those issues that are vital for the Czech Republic’s security or for meeting its Alliance obligations. It has a threefold remit: education; training military professionals as required by the Army of the Czech Republic; and scientific and research projects for the Ministry of Defence. “We are a public state university,” says Colonel Macko. “Therefore, we are also open to civilian students.” Thirty per cent of the 2,000 students currently enrolled at the UoD studying defence-related sciences are civilians.

Seventy percent of the 2,000 students currently enrolled at the UoD studying defencerelated sciences are members of the military.

Image credit: Czech University of Defence (Brno)

Faculties The UoD has three faculties: the Faculty of Economics and Military Management, the Faculty of Military Technology and the Faculty of Military Health Sciences.

The UoD also encompasses the Institute of Defence Against Mass Destruction Weapons, the Language Training Centre and the Physical Training and Sports Centre. “The UoD strictly follows the Bologna Process, the European framework for higher education,” the ViceRector adds. Students are embedded in a three-tier system in which they work towards internationally comparable degrees (Bachelor/Master/PhD), depending on their aspirations and abilities. Students also benefit from smooth recognition procedures and can choose from a wide and transparent range of high-quality courses.

The Faculty of Economics and Military Management offers courses to military personnel in leadership functions.

Courses on the Military Management study paths prepare captains for the rank of major and higher qualified officers for duties of colonel and general. More specialised study modules prepare officers for the function of commander of mechanised or tank units, reconnaissance units, artillery and engineer unit commander, or for the management of information sources. The National Defence Economy study path covers logistics, military transport economics, logistics services, human resources management economics and financial resources management.

Another field of study at the Faculty of Economics and Military Management is Security Management, more specifically civil protection, security services and cybernetics security.

Study programmes in the Faculty of Military Technology cover military and technical areas such as machinery, electro-technology, construction, geo-information, military meteorology and information technology, including related border and interdisciplinary branches.

The Faculty of Military Health Sciences is located in Hradec Králové in eastern Bohemia. The UoD directly manages the Bachelor degree programme for management or business careers in military medical facilities. The Bachelor’s degree programme for paramedics

is carried out jointly with the University of Pardubice. The Master’s degree programmes in Military General Medicine, Military Dentistry and Military Pharmacy are taught in conjunction with the Charles University of Prague, which is responsible for the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Hradec Králové.

ing. The final decision on the awarding of the Erasmus University Charter is taken by the European Commission.

The UoD also takes part in direct military exchange programmes within NATO and the Central European Forum on Military Education, a kind of “Military Erasmus”. It cooperates with military academic institutions and universities from all the Czech Republic’s neighbouring nations, as well as with other NATO members. The Faculty of Economics and Management has also in recent years worked intensively with EU and NATO working groups and the NATO Defence College.

International Cooperation The UoD was awarded the Erasmus University Charter for the academic years 2008/09 and 2013/14, a prerequisite for a higher education institution being able to organise student mobility and teach-

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National Focus Achievements and Projects Four major research projects were recently completed. They referred to technologies for increasing the tactical and operational mobility of ground forces; passive opto-electronic automatic target tracking systems for fire control systems; the development, integration, administration and protection of communication and information systems (C4I2) in a NATO environment; and research and development of modern materials and technologies for applications in military technology. On-going research projects include the evaluation of new methods for data processing in C4I systems; modelling and experimentation for the evaluation of modern fire control systems; the modernising of current engineering means; the development of geographic provision of armed forces; improving crisis-handling capacities; the development of information provision for commander decision-making processes; the development of modern technologies for the Czech Air Forces; and intelligent systems and mobile robots.

As well as MoD-financed projects, the UoD has secured 32 national grants from outside the defence sector.

It receives foreign grants from France, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the United States. Among these are cooperative research programmes on the exploration of enzymes that decompose nerve agents and the comprehensive treatment of mass casualty decontamination – research competencies that are traditionally well developed in the Czech Republic.

example, to verify proposed methods of tactical activities, both current and future, or to create operational conditions that are as real as possible in order to verify actual battle drills. It is also used to verify new weapon platform capabilities, for instance unmanned ground and combat vehicles. Further, VBS2 supports and enhances the educational process of Military Management BA and MA courses. To this end it is used for tactical engagement simulation exercises or involves students in working out exercises on their own, thus learning to work with VBS2.

VBS2 is also used at the UoD to support commanders of Czech contingents in preparing for out-of-the-area multinational missions.

Modelling and Simulation at the University of Defence Members of the UoD are active in 10 training and simulation boards or work groups, including the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group. The UoD uses simulation tools to support programme implementation. The use of the outof-the-box training solution VBS2 from the company Bohemia Interactive is of particular importance to the UoD. VBS2 is utilised to support selected research areas at the Faculty of Economics and Military Management. It is used, for

Well-known and Recognised Even though representatives of the UoD proudly refer to prestigious predecessor institutions such as the Czech Institute of Technology or the Military Academy – the university stands for a new beginning rather than tradition. After the radi-

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INTERVIE

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cal break with the previous social system a decade earlier, political and military leaders recognised that efficient education was the most important instrument for building a new society.

What has been achieved is quite impressive. In the less than ten years since its inception, the University of Defence in Brno, one of the youngest military universities in NATO, has become an academic establishment that easily stands up to any comparison – a university that is well known and respected in the Czech Republic and beyond national borders. mst

VBS2 from Bohemia Interactive is widely used at the UoD. Image credit: Czech Army.

The Army Centre of Simulation and Training Technologies (CSTT) Subordinated to the Training Command of the Military Academy in Vyškov, the CSTT is located in two garrisons: its headquarters and the 1st Simulation and Training Technologies Division in Brno; the 2nd Simulation and Training Technologies Division is in Vyškov.

The mission of the CSTT is to deliver full service in simulation and training technology-based military exercises and to provide education and research services to military professional personnel and to specialists from the civil sector.

The CSTT provides one-side exercises as well as those in which blue and red units fight against each other. Virtual and live simulators on the premises at Vyškov and live simulation exercises on military exercise grounds are practised in that way.

The CSTT can also prepare and support distributed virtualconstructive exercises. Alternatively, commanders and their staff are trained at battalion level in a single exercise with two computer-generated companies in Brno and one additional company manning the virtual simulators in Vyškov.

Resources For live simulation the CSTT has at its disposal a fairly antiquated MILES System and 10 sets of equipment based on Saab BT 46 laser-based simulator technology to instrument Pandur armoured vehicles. A quite unique live training device on the CSTT site in Vyškov is a training pool to exercise underwater emergency escape drills for tank crews.

For virtual simulation the CSTT has a great variety of typespecific devices to train operational procedures, fire training and tactical training, as well as reconfigurable desktop simulators for tactical training. All are of Czech provenance, either made by the VR-Group or Saab Czech (former E-Com). They are compatible with the DIS/HLA-based constructive simulators used at the CSTT and can be used in mixed simulation exercises (combinations of virtual and constructive). A CBT room is also available for training Artillery Forward Observers.

For constructive simulation the CSTT uses the United States’ OneSAF Testbed Baseline (OTB) system and its successor OneSAF. In addition to simulation equipment, the CSTT has two autonomous local networks in Brno and Vyškov at its disposal, including radio liaison between the two sites, plus different voice and data communication systems and multipurpose hardware in both garrisons.

The CSTT currently carries out 20 constructive simulation exercises, 35 virtual simulation exercises and about 40 live simulation exercises each year. Despite declining funding, some say even because of it, demand for CSTT services is continuously increasing. “We must keep up the manifold capabilities of our centre,” says Lieutenant Colonel Ladislav Havelka, Commander CSTT. “Our benchmark must be to offer a complex and realistic training environment in all its aspects.”

For the Commander this is the most efficient way in which military training can benefit from simulation and training technologies. – Walter F. Ullrich

Virtual Trainers at CSTT are all Czech-made.

Image credit: Czech Army.

MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

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Interview

M&S and Air Force Medical Training MS&T’s Chuck Weirauch interviewed Col. Meletios Fotinos.

C

ol Fotinos is the Chief, Medical Modernization Division, Directorate of Medical Services and Training, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Randolph Air Force Base, Tx. He is also Chief of the AFMMAST (Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training) program, providing strategic direction for over $40 million in Air Force Medical Service simulation contracts and assets.

The AFMMAST program was established in 2008 to promote and manage simulation training across the Air Force Medical Service.

MS&T: As Chief of Medical Modernization for AFMMAST, could you please fill us in on just what that title implies for Air Force medical training and education?

Col. Fotinos: In this position, it is my responsibility to guide the service on medical modeling and simulation training, research opportunities and acquisition initiatives. Ultimately, AFMMAST is the linchpin in helping to coordinate a standardized approach to align curriculum, logistical support, and assessment capabilities to enhance training for our medics. We function along the full continuum from basic to advanced training, using a wide variety of modeling and simulation platforms in an effort to develop life-like virtual environments to immerse our medics in, and to 16

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obtain more realistic training. The key to this whole process is standardizing our operations to ensure we capitalize on efforts and build critical curriculum for our customers (simulation operators and medics). This approach allows our medics to train to enhance their ability to provide “Trusted Care Anywhere�.

MS&T: What are some of the most critical needs for advanced medical training and education that have emerged at Air Force medical centers?

Col.F: The slowdown of operations in Afghanistan has raised a major concern for how to sustain critical skills gained in the last decade plus of conflict. Onthe-job training is not an option, since there is no real civilian analog to combat trauma care. Simulation is trying to capture the lessons and develop strategies and tools to help keep the medical forces ready for future engagements. Simula-

Keesler Medical Center's medical simulation lab recently added two MATTs (Multiple Amputation Trauma Trainers) to its inventory.

Image credit: Steve Pivnick/ US Air Force.

tion technologies provide an avenue for augmenting current training curriculum by practicing hands on skill assessment and/or enhancing cognitive function and critical thinking prior to real patient care.

MS&T: How are simulation-based training devices being developed and implemented to meet those most critical needs?

Col. F: There are several different development methods, beginning with basic research. We have a Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR) that includes details of each patient case that flows through the system. We query this registry to look for patterns that present opportunities for training. We then develop training objectives that we need to meet the opportunities and try to match devices with these objectives. We use multiple methods and equipment depending on the requirements.

Implementation is through a multitiered structure that includes formal training sites (Medical Education Training Campus-METC, Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, C-STARS,

etc.) and medical treatment facilities from hospitals to clinics. The further down the tier structure the process is, the less complex the material. We have more than 80 sites that provide medical simulation training, including civilian partnerships.

We are beginning to execute standardized training through our AFMMAST Portal, which allows us to leverage expertise from the larger sites to benefit the smaller sites and save development time.

Additionally, every research study is linked to assessing Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains (psychomotor, cognitive, and affective). The affective domain can be assessed across the majority of studies. The psychomotor and cognitive domains are assessed depending upon the capability of the simulation technology. For example, gaming cannot assess psychomotor. However, high-fidelity simulators, if utilized to their full potential, could assess all three learning domains.

7" x 4.88" MS&T: Would you please provide some examples of some of the most current training devices and those under development?

Col. F: Some of the latest simulation technologies available are the Syndaver Synthetic Human, Cut Suit, serious medical gaming, train the trainer web-based training (WBT), virtual reality with haptics, virtual environments, and numerous other task trainers. Additionally, highfidelity simulators are constantly being upgraded from multiple vendors as technology advances.

MS&T: How is AFMMAST looking to enhance curricula development, and would that include such technologies as virtual worlds?

Col. F: One of the major projects on the plate for curriculum is the development of simulation operator’s courses. We don’t have the luxury of a stable staff that we can train and keep in one place like other civilian systems. As a result, we need a pipeline for training new operators that is repeatable, and cost-effective. We have developed a basic operator’s course that takes a novice with limited knowledge to operating a simulator with a pre-programmed scenario and template in about 2 hours (Sim 101). The second part of this

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interview training that is now in development is a more advanced operator course that will give the learner the ability to develop scenarios on their own and contribute them to the overall program.

Both of these are web-based training platforms, which are available 24/7 at locations with Internet connectivity.

Without skilled operators, the simulators will sit unused in closets and we won’t be able to share the lessons learned that were discussed above. AFMMAST is also working on a Small Business Innovation Research (SIBR) project with a vendor to develop a serious medical game to support Expeditionary Medical Support Emergency Department (EMEDS ED) and National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) training for point of injury scenario care.

This has been taken a couple of steps further to placing these same patients in human simulators and also in separate self-paced learning modules. This way, we can hit all three levels of learning: cognitive, psychomotor, and affective using the same exact patient scenarios.

We are also immersed in a 3D environment (the Wide Area Virtual Environment, or WAVE) that puts the learner in a realistic setting where they will need to apply a variety of skills. These skills include both medical and defensive skills on casualties in a combat arena. Using these types of scenarios helps to expose our medics to what they might experience while deployed.

MS&T: In what specialty areas has simulation-based training emerged to be an effective training tool?

Col. F: Graduate medical education (GME) is using simulation-based training for things such as laparoscopic surgery, endoscopy, etc. We are also using simulation effectively in complex areas such as Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT). The CCATT is in effect a flying critical care unit where there is high risk and mission rehearsal is critical. Nursing is using it to shore up training for novice staff where there are limited patient encounters.

MS&T: Has AFMMAST conducted any studies of the effectiveness of simulation-based medical education and training, and would furthering this work be a part of your office's responsibilities?

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Col. Meletios Fotinos.

Image credit: US Air Force.

Col. F: AFMMAST has conducted several different studies involving effectiveness. The Holy Grail is patient outcomes, which is a difficult item to grasp. We recently purchased several different simulators under the Military Utility Assessment (MUA) process and have implemented them at several sites. One, which is quite far along, is in the obstetrics specialty. We identified the need to train OB staff (docs, nurses, techs) on instrument deliveries. Using a simple task trainer built in Australia (OB Lucy and her Mum), we trained approximately 80 percent of the AFMS OB staff on instrument delivery techniques and prevention of complications. We are waiting on the results from the hospitals that provide delivery services to see if our interventions reduced the rates of 3rd and 4th degree lacerations post delivery.

Also, AFMMAST was awarded over $600K from the Defense Health Program (DHP) to assess the training effectiveness of the WAVE. It currently resides at Camp Bullis, TX and the subjects involved in the study are students participating in the Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) course. The Multiple Amputation Trauma Trainer (MATT) is immersed within the 3D virtual environment in a point of injury scenario where students have to triage and assess the patient and prep them for transport.

AFMMAST continues to develop research protocols for execution. Some other topics currently in the works are a live tissue vs. synthetic tissue assess-

ment, performance metrics validation study on high-fidelity simulation mannequins, various patient outcomes studies, and a serious medical game validation study. The live tissue versus synthetic tissue assessment will compare the Syndaver synthetic tissue model to live tissue with hopes to validate an alternative for current live tissue training. The serious medical game validation study will include a point of injury scenario that will be implemented at METC to assess performance improvement on NREMT scores for basic EMT students.

MS&T: What emphasis are you placing on gaming technology-based and mobile applications?

Col. F: We are looking at multiple different media to see which are the most effective. In our Sim 101 course, we have mobile applications as job aids for specific simulators, which can be downloaded from the AFMMAST Portal. The issue with gaming is cost. It is very expensive to develop and maintain/host games that continue to meet the changing medical knowledge and standards of care.

The vision for the serious medical game SBIR project is to provide seamless patient transition throughout the entire continuum of care (including point of injury, EMEDS, AE/CCATT, and definitive care). Gaming may become an important augmentation tool to enhance student cognitive ability. Today’s “digital learners” attention spans are short for traditional didactic learning. Preliminary results of games have shown that they encourage critical thinking, promote active learning, replicate real-life scenarios, and make learning more exciting.

MS&T: Along with the WAVE immersive medic combat training environment, is AFMMAST involved in R&D for any other kinds of virtual operating room environments for clinical team training?

Col. F: In the SIBR game, a multiplayer environment will allow for teams across the globe to engage in training at the same time. Geographically separated medical teams scheduled to deploy together will be able to log on to a serious medical game online and train together virtually prior to arriving in-theater. mst Editor’s Note: Visit the AFMMAST online portal http://www.afmmast.mil for more information.

Training Technology

Low Cost: COTS and Targeted Fidelity The Interim Support Helicopter Tactics Course (ISHTC) trains in a flexible and targeted fidelity synthetic environment.

MS&T’s Dim Jones reports.

T

ucked away in corner of a hangar at RAF Lintonon-Ouse in North Yorkshire, and sharing space with a Volunteer Gliding School, several interesting-looking light aircraft and the Station’s aircraft paint bays, is a hangarwithin-a-hangar which, externally, is remarkable only in that it appears new, whereas everything else in the hangar is not.

Closer inspection, however, reveals this to be the Simulator Hall of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Interim Support Helicopter Tactics Course (ISHTC), which is remarkable for a number of other reasons.

ISHTC The ISHTC had its origins in a pact agreed in 2008 by Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy, at the time Prime Minister of the UK and President of France respectively. They were concerned that a large proportion of the burden of providing helicopter support to operations in Afghanistan was falling on relatively few contributors, and that it ought to be more widely spread. Their aim was the inclusion of helicopter assets from other nations in the EU, particularly former Warsaw Pact nations which had recently become members of NATO and the EU. There were three obstacles to this aspiration: firstly, the helicopters in question were in a poor state of repair; secondly, those that were serviceable were not suitably equipped for operations in Afghanistan; and lastly, the experience and training of the crews was in some cases inadequate for the task.

The EDA was given the task of addressing the last of these issues but in time-honoured fashion, with few resources and minimal funding. Initial studies indicated that the best way to achieve the aim would be to institute some form of tactical train-

ing for helicopter crews which would enable them to reach a common standard and allow them to participate with confidence in multi-national operations.

Funding to set up such training was provided by three nations – the UK, Sweden and Luxembourg - but at a level which made it clear that the training would have to be synthetic, and that its basis would have to be low-cost, ie. utilising COTS technology and targeted fidelity.

The UK was selected as the host nation and RAF Linton-on-Ouse was chosen as the venue, for no better reasons than its location (close to three international airports, with a runway of its own, and with high-speed rail links to London and the rest of Europe), and the fact that the draw-down in RAF training meant that Linton could offer domestic and technical accommodation.

Various options for the layout and type of synthetic equipment were evaluated, and it was decided that the training objectives could best be achieved by using generic cockpit and fuselage mock-ups with visual displays of sufficient scope and fidelity to provide an immersive environment, and allow the crews to achieve and maintain situ-

The linked cockpits permit tactical formation practice.

All images: European Defence Agency

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Training Technology ational awareness in divers and rapidly-changing tactical scenarios. These ideas were validated by a Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD), and the contract to develop and run the course for a period of two years was awarded to Agusta-Westland in May 2011, with courseware and staff developed and provided

by Alpha Aviation. The course content was developed using a ‘training gap assessment’ and this seems to have worked very well in establishing a common training level. With such a wide range of trainees from different countries and helicopter types, it is assumed that all trainees are competent and current aircrew within their own nation and on their own aircraft. The ISHTC is therefore not a flying skills course but concentrates on the theory and practical aspects of tactical training focusing on judgemental training, decision making and captaincy. The course runs for three weeks, the first week being devoted to groundschool and the remainder to flying exercises. The first course started in January 2012, and I attended the final day of No 12 Course, 12 aircrew from Slovenia. Crew composition (pilots and rear-crew) is always from a single nation, but a course may be composed of crews from different nations, which can be a positive, in that it encourages the use of a single language – English.

Cockpits The set-up comprises two cockpits, which can be made, by use of interchangeable instrument panels, to represent one of three types – the AW109, the AS532 Puma, and the Mi-171Sh. The size of the cockpit area is necessarily a compromise. Each cockpit is equipped with a partial visual dome with a field-of-view of 180o horizontally and 60o vertically. There is limited motion-cueing, but this is not regarded as necessary in order to achieve the required level of immersion. Each fuselage structure is equipped with two door-mounted guns; one has a partial visual dome, and both rear-crew members have helmet-mounted visual systems.

The two aircraft can operate entirely independently but in the same virtual environment, and each will appear in the other’s visual field where appropriate. The visual and animation is provided by VBS2, selected because the MoD declared as part of the Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) workstrand that this SAF environment should be the default selection for all military simulation. Bohemia Interactive have been project partners of choice from the outset, based on VBS2 plug and play capability, accessibility, realism, and ease of use; furthermore, the terms of the licence to EDA allows for any third party to adapt the programme to suit the course. All the equipment is COTS: the cockpits are made by a company called Selective Fidelity Simulation (SFS); the fuselage sections are made by Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS), with helmet-mounted displays by Sony, the rear crew served weapons by LASERSHOT, and the scenario software and integration by Cursive Simulation. Permanent support is provided by Bohemia and, when required, by Cursive, SFS and VSS. The five instructing staff are all ex-UK military – RAF and Army – with a blend of Support Helicopter (SH) and Attack Helicopter (AH) experience, and a combined flying time of some 25000 hours; the team also includes an ex-RAF Loadmaster with 34 years experience on rotary aircraft systems. They are all Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors (QHTI) or equivalent, and have extensive experience in a variety of roles, including synthetic 20

M S & T M AGA Z INE 5 . 2 0 1 3

The well-equipped instructor station allows detailed monitoring of all aspects of the mission.

training. The instructor stations are equipped with multiple selectable screens, and can be manned by up to three instructors – one or two to control the course helicopters and role-play the various external agencies represented in the scenario, and one to run the scenarios.

Groundschool At the start of groundschool, each student is given an iPad through which he has access to a Moodle-based learning content management system, all the course reference material, tactical and scenario information, and an emulation of the tactical navigation and comms equipment in the aircraft; these tablets can be used during the flying exercises, if desired, and there is wi-fi throughout the training locations. The flying phase comprises 10 sorties, the first of which is a familiarisation sortie, and the remainder built on nine tactical scenarios, using a building-block approach to improve operational awareness, reaction to threats and defensive flying. Groundschool and the early flying sorties are used to establish the general level of expertise of the students and note disparities in procedure, and the flying sorties can then be adapted to suit specific and individual requirements. These modules are made up of a significant number of combat related scenarios that include; troop insertion and extraction, defensive and tactical formation flying, convoy escort and medical evacuation tasks, and combat search and rescue missions. Wherever possible real life situations are ‘role played’ and are briefed using the standard NATO briefing formats. The final sortie is flown in a complex tactical scenario, with diverse tasks, multiple external agencies to liaise with – ground forces, tactical controllers, AWACS, supporting fast-jet, other SH and AH – and many tactical injects and unplanned tasks, just to add a little spice.

The ISHTC graduated its 100th student in January 2013 and, thus far, participants from Sweden, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, UK, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal and Finland have taken part. Although it started out as a precursor to deployment to Afghanistan, the course has assumed a more general role, preparing crews for operations in support of multi-national operations in any theatre; for this reason, scenario injects are drawn from other theatres which might not be strictly appropriate to Afghanistan. One aspiration being fulfilled is the inception of a European Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course (EHTIC), which trains participants to develop and instruct their own national tactics and procedures.

At the end of the course, the graduating students are presented with a certificate and a flying suit patch, in the case of No 12 ISHTC by Lt Col Michael Becker, a German Army officer attached to the EDA. It is clear that they have enjoyed the course and have derived a great deal of benefit from it. The EDA experience is that graduates are proud to wear the patch, and that it helps to generate rapport and standardisation with other ISHTC graduates when they meet on other exercises or on operations.

By mutual consent between EDA and AgustaWestland, the latter relinquished responsibility for the contract in January 2013, and this has been assumed temporarily by Alpha Aviation, who will shortly be bidding to retain it on a more permanent basis.

The facility is not currently running at full capacity, and there is scope for utilising the excess to provide low-cost RW training in other fields – such as air ambulance and police helicopter operations – which is currently being conducted in the aircraft, at greater expense and with significant operating restrictions.

The ISHTC is complementary to EDA’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), which is a 10-year programme, funded by the 13 contributing Member States. Key elements are the Helicopter Tactics Symposium, which allows helicopter crews to share experiences, gain knowledge of the current threats they face and to discuss the tactics, techniques and procedures; and live flying exercises. Three symposia have been held to date, all in Luxembourg; to date, five flying exercises have been delivered since the first in 2009. Intensive preparatory work is currently under way to deliver Exercise Hot Blade 13 again in Ovar Base, Portugal. To

The gunner’s position, with helmet-mounted visual system

date, 14 participatory Member States have been actively involved in these exercises, with another three sending observers. A total of 123 helicopters, 794 aircrew, and nearly 5000 support personnel have taken part.

As for the ISHTC itself, it has undoubtedly been a success story from all angles. A key element is the quality of the instructing staff and, from their perspective, the two vital ingredients are: firstly a sense of personal involvement in, an ownership of, the success of the project and secondly, the freedom of thought and action conferred by being unshackled from established process – both military and business. There may always be a requirement for highend simulation, but EDA ISHTC shows that there is also clearly a place for a low-cost, targeted-fidelity, solution – and, in the current climate of budgetary constraint, it may be the only solution. mst

4 ͭ ͪ Annual Seminar Tuesday 8 ͭ ͪ October 2013 Westminster Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

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t3 seminars promote the exchange of ideas between those with training responsibilities in different industry sectors with input from training and simulation solution providers.

This seminar will build on the success of previous t3 events and cover techniques for setting objectives, course design, distance learning and simulation.

It will address different approaches and devices including serious games, part-task trainers, lowcost simulators and simulations, CBT and distance learning to provide skills training for a range of sectors with high risks. t3 seminars provide an opportunity to network and build business relationships between those who plan, procure or supply training solutions for industries including manufacturing, utilities, defence, security, emergency response, healthcare, retail, financial services and transportation by rail, road, water and air.

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21

Image credit: Boeing

Industry Interview

Mark McGraw – Q&A MS&T speaks with Boeing’s VP of Training Systems and Government Services, Global Services & Support.

B

oeing’s Vice President of Training Systems and Government Services, Global Services & Support was interviewed by Group Editor Marty Kauchak on June 19, 2013. The content of this wide-ranging interview is provided in its entirety.

MS&T: Good afternoon and thanks for taking time to speak with MS&T. Last month another industry team was awarded the US Air Force’s KC-46A Aircrew Training System (ATS) contract.

Update us on your latest information regarding the Air Force customer's plans to award the contract for the KC-46A Maintenance Training System.

Mark McGraw: We were disappointed by the outcome of the KC-46 ATS competition. We really did give the Air Force a really good proposal. While we received a great score so did a lot of the others.

Some of the discriminators we had didn’t earn us any extra credit. We’re moving on from that.

On MTS, all we’re hearing is that the program is not on the service’s roadmap for next year.

MS&T: This week Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh said at the Air Force Association breakfast that his ser22

M S & T M A G A Z I NE 5 . 2 0 1 3

vice really needs a new trainer to replace Northrop Grumman’s T-38 trainer, which is on average almost 45 years old. The general said the Air Force may have the trainer by 2023 or 24. The T-X program is expected to be worth some $11 billion for about 350 planes. We believe you and your colleagues in Boeing Military Aircraft are watching this program.

MM: We expect the program to move forward. It’s just a matter of the exact timing. Because it is such a critical program for the Air Force we’re very focused on it as well. This would be a “one Boeing” collaboration, between the aircraft side of the company and the services side as well, including training systems.

MS&T: After your high level review of the Obama administration's FY 2014 Pentagon budget request, what are some other near-term business opportunities your division may be pursuing?

MM: We’re watching this very closely especially as we approach the second half of this year because that is when we might start seeing things – contract awards moving out a bit to the right because of the civilian furloughs on the customer side, for example.

We’ll also have to look and see how

training comes out in the budget. One would expect that if we want to save money and fly less, that there might be more training in the ground-based training systems that are out there which could create opportunities. But at the same time there could be fewer numbers of students coming through to learn – providing a little balancing there.

But we’re really focused on international growth. Dennis [Muilenburg, Boeing Defense, Space & Security President & CEO] is committed to 30 percent of our revenue coming from international customers. We’re well on our way to meeting that goal. We have opportunities in the UK, the Middle East and Asia.

Some of those are some very interesting, long-term training opportunities. And let’s use the Middle East as an example. You have Saudi Arabia that has purchased many new aircraft and systems. Qatar is doing the same things as are others – creating a huge demand not only for aircrews but maintainers.

They’ve looked at their existing infrastructures for creating those pilots and maintainers and the capacity is not there.

They are looking at industry partnerships to do everything from ab initio training, right out of high school, all the way to training on the actual platform. That opens up a lot of opportunities for us.

MS&T: It appears these requirements and opportunities are hitting the “sweet spot” for your division in terms of your many corporate competencies.

MM: Yes, and we’re frankly moving beyond our previous focus on selling training devices. We’re moving forward to just focusing on training, with devices as being part of it.

What really carries a lot of weight, especially on the international market, is the Boeing brand. If you buy a Boeing platform, who better to train you on that platform than the folks who built it?

While domestically that isn’t treated as a discriminator, it really is on the international side. That Boeing brand can open many doors and sell the products and services.

MS&T: The US military is shaping its training doctrine and strategy to move beyond more than 10 years of supporting counter-insurgency-like operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. How is Boeing's

product portfolio keeping pace with the US DoD customer's efforts to expand its training mission sets to better support future operations?

MM: As the services move from operations to more of a peace time environment, their training needs to change a bit. When the pace slows down, how do you keep those operational skills honed for the future?

We’re trying to stay close to all of our military customers to meet these needs.

We’re having a lot of dialogue with them. They’re very focused on value with the budget pressures. We’re trying to figure out how we can do more with less with the potential for different business models, from how we can provide training and products in a more affordable manner.

MS&T: As we speak, the Paris Air Show is in full swing. Boeing's P-8s, F/A-18, E/A-18s and other military aircraft are very competitive for overseas contract awards. To summarize some of our earlier discussions, what role is your division expected to have in future sales of these and other fixed- and rotary wing aircraft?

MM: That creates not only opportunities to sell devices, but a lot of international customers are more interested in “turn key” training solutions to provide the devices, build the facilities, train their trainers, maintain their devices and even provide training as a service for 10, 15 or 20 years. That is very interesting for us.

We have set up, in some cases, training centers that provide training for those that don’t have enough aircraft to justify training device.

MS&T: The length of those contracts must offer Boeing some welcome stability.

MM: Yes, absolutely. The UK MoD, for example, is moving toward buying a capability. As part of that capability they want to buy the platform, the training and other support needed to go with it – as a package – and typically buying it from the original equipment manufacturer. That creates great opportunities for us.

And continuing, one thing that we want to ensure we have as we sell platforms into overseas countries and that is to ensure that those crews can get trained. Sometimes with the US Foreign

Military Sales training system, those services struggle to get slots and they may struggle with the English training requirement as a prerequisite. We’re looking at how we can take care of all of that so they can have properly trained crews.

So with the F-15 and F-18, the C-17, still going strong, and the P-8, we’re going to have a whole lot of opportunities. And then there’s rotorcraft, both CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache are very strong and we have the AH-6I. When you wrap these together there are a lot of opportunities.

MS&T: Is there anything else to add?

MM: Yes. Domestically, we are helping to field the US Navy’s P-8 program. That service has made a big investment in its training center at NAS Jacksonville. We’re providing all of the equipment, maintaining the devices and delivering other services. That’s a huge program for us.

The Navy is making a move from the P-3C Orion where crews do a lot of training on the aircraft and less on the groundbased training system. They are doing a major shift on the P-8 given its commercial heritage. I believe the Navy is extremely pleased with the aircraft. I encourage you to talk to the Navy and ask them what they think of the P-8.

We have an operational flight trainer which is a full motion device for the aircrew in the front, a weapons tactics trainer which is the “barrel” of the aft part of the plane – not on motion but very realistic. The two devices can be linked together. And we have other part-task trainers, and electronic classrooms and courses and related materiel. All pretty neat stuff if you haven’t seen it.

MS&T: I am confident that MS&T will publish an article on the P-8 training system in the near future. I will certainly be in contact to gain your program manager’s insights. mst

Inside the flight simulator at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville P-8A Integrated Training Center.

Image credit: Salt Cebe/U.S. Navy.

M S & T M A G A Z I NE 5 . 2 0 1 3

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Training Exercise

Bold Alligator 13 A boost for higher level staff training: Bold Alligator 13 allowed US amphibious units and staffs, and their international partners to strengthen their mission sets in a synthetic environment, Group Editor Marty Kauchak reports.

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he US Navy-Marine Corps team advanced the state-ofart in operational headquarters training in the synthetic domain during this April and May’s Bold Alligator (BA) 13.

The 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and Carrier Strike Group 12 along with coalition partners refined their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) at the unit and staff levels in the event. At the same time the operational commanders and their staffs and units, explored the realm of possibility for new tactics to support forces in the contemporary operational environment.

Thirty commands, including seven ships, and approximately 3,500 personnel from 16 countries and Strike Force NATO participated in the exercise. A partial list of participating nations in addition to the US included Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Exercise participants were onboard ships in port, in Navy and Marine Corps training buildings and in command shelters in the field.

BA13 was latest in the series of synthetic, scenario-driven exercises written to train staffs from each command to continue revitalizing and improving their ability to complete large-scale operations from the sea. The Pentagon’s civilian and military leadership remains interested in the continued improvement of the Navy-Marine Corps amphibious team’s mission sets in amphibious warfare following more than ten years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Brigadier General John Love, Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and Commanding General, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), told MS&T from USS Battan (LHD 5), the exercise flagship, that BA 13 was designed to

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improve operational capabilities and competencies above the amphibious readiness group (ARG)-Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) level “all the way up to a MEB level exercise.”

BA13 and other exercises in the Bold Alligator series also allow US amphibious forces to train for and refine operations based on the Arab Spring and other recent events. Rear Admiral Ann Phillips, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, also embarked on the flagship, pointed out these exercises “allow us to take what we saw and learned to more broadly apply today’s modern force, and develop new TTPs that fit better with how we want to project power with our maritime expeditionary forces in the future.”

“Combination of the Two is the Way to Go” At a cursory glance, training in a synthetic environment continues to provide many advantages for a widely dispersed, disparate training audience, as in BA13, where participating units were arrayed across the US. “This technology helps us work through the full range of a training continuum – a spectrum that we might

Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) Image credit: Edward Guttierrez III /U.S. Navy.

need to work such missions,” Philips said, and continued, “It gives us the opportunity to be very flexible on how we train and then to modify it on the fly if we want to, which would be much more difficult to do with forces at sea.”

Asked if the turbulence of sequestration, continuing resolutions and other turbulence on training readiness budgets will force their services to more carefully weigh the advantages of synthetic training and migrate more live training into the virtual and constructive domains, Love responded, “We will continue to assume that there is no substitute for live training. We will try to conduct live training whenever the resources permit. And clearly there will be some tough decisions in the future. And so I can see it would be feasible to just say there will be an uptick in synthetictype training, complementing to a greater degree the live training that is conducted.” Speaking in his capacity as a force commander and not a senior policy maker, Love also noted that Pacific Fleet amphibious forces, unlike their Atlantic counterparts, complete robust-like synthetic events early in the same pre-deployment training cycle in the same year, before they transition to live training. “I think a combination of those is probably where the ‘sweet spot’ is. It would certainly include a synthetic phase or phases woven into the training continuum,” he added.

Opportunity to Evaluate Doctrine The services’ training audiences used the synthetic environment to examine recent developments in doctrine, policy and guidance.

In one of many efforts the BA13 staffs addressed the rapidly evolving anti-access area denial (A2AD) threat strategy. In the A2AD environment, the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conceptually has the main effort in the advanced force operations phase of an amphibious operation. “The innovation here was that instead of having the CSG and Navy assets out there trying to roll back the threat on their own, the Marine Corps placed two of its MEUs, and the Navy two of its ARGs under the tactical control of the CSG so the amphibious forces could conduct raids and other shore activities to roll back some of the A2AD threat. This demonstrated the “Blue-Green” capabilities in the A2AD fight,” Love added.

From the Navy’s perspective, ESG2 was able to evaluate how to better incorporate a Tactical Amphibious Squadron (Phibron) into the ESG staff. “What we’re doing this year is going back to a concept that is in doctrine and standing it to be more like a ‘mock’ maritime operational center-type headquarters where the Phibron staff is working at the headquarters level to execute the event – within the composite warfare commander structure, which they would have done anyway.” Phillips said.

Technology Underpinnings From a technology perspective BA 13 was an incremental step forward to enhance synthetic, distributed training.

The training audiences used their services’ two legacy simulations, the Marine Corps’ Marine Air Ground Task Force Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) and the Navy’s Joint Semi-Automated Forces (JSAF) as the backbone for the event. From a technology perspective, “this was a classic, distributed exercise,” Tom Cariker, the Director of the II MEF Simulation Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, told MS&T. But, beyond the use of existing legacy networks, Cariker

pointed out this exercise was another, iterative step toward his service’s vision of Large Scale Exercises. In this instance, the Camp Pendleton, California-based 11 MEU, participated by way of MTWS. “As they ‘maneuvered’ their force, that was all represented to us. So 2,500 miles away or right down the hall in our simulation center, it really doesn’t matter,” he said. The service training authority said that in his five years in this management position, this was the first time a West Coast-based unit participated in one of his center’s events.

Cariker also noted on US DoD’s horizon for distributed, synthetic training is a collaborative effort among the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and the services’ training leadership to establish the Joint Training Enterprise Architecture (JTEA). The conceptual system would be supported by cloud computing, Web 2.0 technologies and other attributes. With an envisioned cloud architecture and other innovations, the JTEA would also offer cost reductions. Cariker noted one projected area of JTEA cost savings. “In the budget out years how can you still provide realistic simulations with maybe not as many hardware stations which drive periodic updates, upgrades and those types of things.”

The service training official further emphasized that as the department’s embryonic JTEA matures its’ technology designers should remember “something that is very critical to whatever we do and should be protected at all costs – the network.” Cariker said a number of networks terminate at his simulation center, including his service’s Aviation Distributed Virtual Training Environment. This recent capability allows simulator-based pilots to participate in ground training missions.

Cariker’s Navy counterpart, Michael Ogden, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Synthetic Training and Technology at Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic, recalled that for BA12, primarily a live training event, “about 50 percent of the forces were synthetic at the very beginning. They moved toward more and more synthetic, as we moved along in the exercise. So one challenge there is how do you mix live and synthetic in safe manner?

We’re going to carry that through potentially with BA14, simply because we don’t have the number of opposition forces to train, much less the range space, so we end up using synthetic to a considerable point.”

Ogden, in his capacity as the Navy’s Exercise Director, also noted a future, dual-lane technology and operational avenue the services are going down “is getting more interaction between live and synthetic forces so I can have a live carrier strike group out at sea, a carrier strike group that’s playing shipboard pier side, and live amphibious forces out at seas and a mix of synthetic and live opposition forces. Everything short of the visual connection, we can still have interaction between the two.”

Regarding that more robust, higher fidelity synthetic environment, the former Marine Corps aviator declared, “We are not there, yet, with regards to the systems onboard ships dealing with both live and synthetic at the same time. We can have a ship pier side in the exercise and attack a synthetic, inbound aircraft and can synthetically shoot the weapon. It cannot do that when it is out at sea when it sees a synthetic contact. That is the next step – to get that interaction between live participants at sea with synthetic, virtual players.” mst M S & T M AGA Z IN E 5 . 2 0 1 3

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National Focus

National Aerospace Surveillance and Control RAF Boulmer monitors the UK Air Defence Region – and despatches air assets as required.

MS&T’s Dim Jones describes the aerospace surveillance and control system and the folks who man it.

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n the Northumberland coast, roughly midway between the two Typhoon bases at Coningsby and Leuchars, lies RAF Boulmer, the hub from which the UK’s Aerospace Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) monitors air activity in and around the UK Air Defence Region and, when necessary, deploys air assets to counter potential and actual threats. Boulmer is one of two Control and Reporting Centres (CRCs) in the UK, and is active around the clock; the other, at RAF Scampton, operates during the working week, unless operational requirements dictate otherwise. There is an additional CRC in the Falkland Islands, and UK ASACS personnel provide manpower for equivalent organisations in Afghanistan and the Middle East. RAF Boulmer’s Station Commander is also the ASACS Force Commander, responsible for both the static element of the UK ASACS, and for maintaining a deployable capability, No 1 Air Control Centre, based at RAF Scampton and held at readiness to provide tactical air command and control worldwide.

In order to fulfil its surveillance and control roles, the CRC relies on a network of remote radars and radio links around the UK, information from which is fused to produce a Recognised Air Picture (RAP). Boulmer also receives information from the Civil Air Traffic system, and from surveillance organisations in countries bordering the UKADR, such as France, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. In order to be able to react to any threat or unusual activity, the CRC exercises Tactical Control (TACON) of the two Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) (QRA(I)) forces, Southern at Coningsby and Northern at Leuchars, where Typhoon aircraft are held at permanent readiness to scramble, and of the associated tanker aircraft, held at readiness at RAF Brize Norton.

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tle Management (ABM) branch, and Air Surveillance Manager/Operator trade groups. The School of Aerospace Battle Management (SABM) is also located at Boulmer. Recruiting for the ABM branch is by means of normal selection procedures, including computer-based aptitude testing, in which ABM candidates undergo many of the same tests as pilots. The first part of the SABM course is common to all entrants, following which they are streamed to either surveillance or weapons (control) duties.

The branch is currently enjoying a high recruiting and manning level, due in part to reductions in recruiting for other branches, and internal branch transfers; however, although the posts in the Falklands Islands are established, those in Afghanistan and elsewhere are not.

A normal shift in the CRC will comprise a Master Controller and a number of Fighter Allocators, each of whom will have several controllers through whom to achieve the range of tasks assigned.

A weapons graduate will emerge from SABM with a Certificate of Qualification (CQ), and capable of controlling a 2 v 2 mission. However, very much more will soon be required, and the graduates will

The Air Surveillance and Control Systems (ASACS) Force played a vital role in Exercise Joint Warrior earlier this year.

Image credit: RAF Boulmer.

be assigned to the CRC’s Training Squadron to continue their professional development. Early requirements will be the ability to control air-to-air refuelling missions, and also QRA, following which, and on satisfactory completion of a work-up syllabus and check sortie, they will be declared Limited Combat Ready (LCR).

Additionally, a controller on a first tour can expect to undertake at least two Out-of-Area (OOA) detachments of varying length, each theatre having specific preparatory training requirements.

Following award of LCR status, trainees remain under the control of Training Squadron; although they are releasable on an opportunity basis for CRC control duties in roles for which they are already qualified, either for their personal currency requirements or to provide manpower for the CRC task, the focus is on their professional development. A shortage of available live assets makes the more complex scenarios hard to generate, and full use is made of opportunities provided by the major periodic exercises, such as Joint Warrior, and the Combined Qualified Weapons Instructor (CQWI) Course. Extensive use is also made of the simulator, in which any scenario can be generated, and upon which the actual RAP of the day can be superimposed, just to make life more interesting. When all the training objectives have been achieved, a successful tactical check will result in the award of CR status; with a fair wind, this can be achieved in about 18 months.

Controllers for the Airborne Early Warning (AEW – E3A Sentry) force, although under separate operational control, are members of the ABM branch; all of them will have undergone the standard weapons controller training and qualified at Boulmer; transfer to AEW duties is thereafter by application and selection.

Controllers are required to maintain currency in all forms of control, from ‘broadcast’, where the position of forces is indicated to friendly fighters with reference to a datum point or ‘bullseye’, to full close control of an individual fighter which – despite the sophistication of modern airborne weapons systems - can still be required for tactical reasons. Day-to-day tasks include the monitoring of practice intercept (PI) sorties, including assisting with the set-up of friendly and opposing forces, and the control of training air-to-air refuelling towlines. With reduced front line live flying activity, this training can be hard to come by, and it is important that the available assets are used efficiently. Every Thursday, the planned flying for the following week is collated and allocated according to an established priority list. No plan, of course, survives first contact with the enemy – issues such as weather and aircraft serviceability conspire to confound it – and it is then the responsibility of the CRC supervisors to make best use of what is available on any day, and react to the inevitable short-notice changes.

Major upgrades to existing equipment are in the pipeline, but must compete for scarce funding. Most of these are in the area of communications and connectivity; although radio comms are controlled by a sophisticated system, the final link is through data and voice radio transmitters and receivers.

In sum, the ASACS represents a key element of both UK homeland security, and the RAF’s deployable Air Command and Control capability; life in the ABM branch of the RAF is rarely dull and always busy. mst

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MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

27

VT MÄK will allow I/ITSEC delegates to play the role of training instructor or task group commander.

Image credit: VT MÄK.

I/ITSEC Show Preview

Concepts and Technologies: Empowering an Agile Force This is the theme for I/ITSEC 2013. MS&T editors preview the event

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/ITSEC returns to the Orange County Convention Center 2-5 December amid what could charitably be called tumultuous times, or, as some would term it, ‘interesting’ times.

“The need for Industry and Government to come together to discuss and debate requirements and capabilities has never been stronger and the value of events like I/ITSEC have passed the test” states RADM James Robb, President, NTSA. “The core of the show remains strong and the mission remains as relevant as ever. All the services are working hard on their approvals and I am thinking we will be in much better shape this year in that regard.”

All Services have submitted their approval packages – including exhibit space – for participation in I/ITSEC 2013; however, approvals will not be finalized until late September or early October. Organizers expect approvals to be granted at levels similar to those of last year, and possibly somewhat greater, although there are no firm indications of overall levels at this time.

Exhibit space sales are in line with those of last year at this time. Organizers note that, despite their decisions not to attend several other major exhibitions, all the large exhibitors at I/ITSEC have committed to attending I/ITSEC 2013.

Registration levels, while still pre-

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liminary, are in line with those of 2012, leading organizers to expect similar totals. While this may be a somewhat reduced level of attendance from 2011 highs, organizers would remind us “those able to travel are the decision makers in whom industry is most interested”. As in 2012, one might expect to see a paucity of US uniforms in the aisles, and a relative abundance of international uniforms.

The upsurge in international participation in I/ITSEC has been marked.

In 2008 representatives from 53 foreign countries attended; at I/ITSEC 2012 representatives of 73 countries, fully a third of the independent nations of the world, participated. And expect to see more industry and government join in national pavilions, as did Brazil in 2012 and will again this year.

The 2013 theme Concepts and Technologies: Empowering an Agile Force is prevalent throughout the planned program. The Conference Chair, Cyndi Turner, General Dynamics Information Technology, explains the theme emphasizes the growth of an idea from a concept to an enabling technology that warfighters can use to maintain the highest state of readiness possible. She notes that in addition to the three full days of paper presentations across six tracks, and the I/ITSEC favourite events, there are a number of new and exciting Special Events planned.

Certain to be interest for those companies seeking to look abroad Doing Business Globally will provide introductions of the key Foreign Military Sales (FMS) leaders from the training and simulation sectors within the services and an overview of the process and insights for accessing FMS requirements and securing FMS contracts.

What does the training technology future hold? The special event Training Technologies: Vision of the Future will focus on how each service and OSD plans to accelerate the transition of their latest research and development efforts and will offer their vision for the future.

The panel will offer examples of recent achievements and provide insight into initiatives that will benefit meeting the warfighting challenges of the future.

Intelligent systems technology promises to provide significant improvements to future training and education. In Intelligent Systems: Designing for the Future the expert panel will provide insights to how this might be done.

For those looking outside the military market, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare sponsored event – Entering the Commercial Healthcare M&S Market – will help defense industry members better understand the challenges and potential rewards to be found in the healthcare M&S market.

Cyberspace is a dangerous place. In the Cyber Panel players who face the cyberspace threat daily will discuss the future of cyberspace threats and countermeasures and about opportunities for vital partnerships in industry, academia, and DoD. The Inter-Industry Panel will explore the broad M&S implementation landscape.

Topics are expected to embrace White House Initiatives; Manufacturing; Transportation; Energy and Education (K-12).

Is this just another ‘flavour of the month’? The Transmedia Learning Toward Empowering an Agile Force panel will explore a new OSD concept, Transmedia Learning. The panel will attempt to address the myriad of what, why, how, and how much questions about this new approach to learning delivery.

The panel Training for Regional Stability Operations: the Afghanistan and Free Enterprise Models will discuss how

industry and government can learn from each other about operating in globally dispersed, culturally disparate regions.

The Artificial Intelligence for Social Interaction Simulation panel of practitioners in social interaction simulation will illustrate the challenges and approaches being pursued relative to social interaction simulations. Social competency & interpersonal communication skills are increasingly being recognized as critical adjuncts to traditional warfighter skills.

The Serious Games Showcase and Challenge is shaping up to be better than ever. Jenn McNamara, of BreakAway, Ltd, industry lead for the SGSC Committee, reports they expect to receive over 60 games. Submissions are being accepted thru mid-September. Finalists will be selected in early October, and notified by mid-October.

McNamara notes that many interest-

ing trends have emerged. She stated, “We have added a mobile category as user demand increased; Mobile is now one of our largest categories. We have also seen a trend away from first person shooters and simulations targeting military tactics; and more towards games that focus on training complex concepts including cognitive processes, medical skills, mathematics, and games representing a wider range of diverse categories.”

She added that as a result of the rise in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related games and games that generate or process data they have instituted a Students’ Choice award to get those games evaluated by their intended audience; in this case, by Middle and High School students in Florida's Orange County Public Schools (OCPS). All OCPS students will play all of the games submitted that meet OCPS standards and are relevant to their classwork. mst

Industry Exhibitors I/ITSEC provides a unique opportunity for vendors to showcase products and services. While many specific showcase plans are still being finalized, here are the intentions of a few exhibitors: Rheinmetall - On centre stage will be a Leopard Gunnery Skills Trainer (LGST) as they will be used to train Canadian tank crews in the operation and tactics of the recently fielded Leo 2A4 CAN main battle tank.

Fidelity Technology - has harnessed the power to replicate the physical world in the most dynamic and powerful Image Generator on the market today, and the FidEX Product Line offers multiple viewpoints into the simulation world.

Concurrent Real-Time - will be demonstrating its latest advances in real-time simulation and training. “We are showcasing our awardwinning real-time solutions and highlighting the latest generation of our RedHawk Linux and SIMulation Workbench products,” notes Ken Jackson, Concurrent Vice President, Real-Time. “We will also be featuring the Helicopter Pilot Screening System (FPS-H) with ESG GmbH.” MASA Group - This developer of AI-based M&S software will present the latest releases of the MASA SWORD and MASA LIFE products. SWORD is an automated, aggregated, constructive simulation for both the military and the emergency preparedness sector. LIFE is AI middleware that allows the creation of smarter, more realistic and autonomous characters in simulations or 3D engines.

CAE - Its Integrated Enterprise Solutions group will show integration of the defense, critical infrastructure and medical fields in response to a disaster. A flood/fire scenario will drive response from an unmanned ISR platform to provide oversight and direction for managing ground resources. CAE Healthcare human patient simulators will represent casualties. In addition, CAE will demonstrate a T-6C mission procedures trainer and the CAE Dynamic Synthetic Environment.

MetaVR - will showcase features and enhancements in its Virtual

Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™), 3D terrain and 3D models, focused on the recently released VRSG version 5.8. This release of VRSG contains several new features, enhancements, and 3D content related to distributed mission operations training. Demonstrations will include the new VRSG Scenario Editor and the new VRSG IR capability.

L-3 Link Simulation and Training - will be highlighting its training capabilities within Manned-Unmanned Training (MUM-T) and Virtual Maintenance System Training. “We also will speak to our growing capabilities in support of the Black Hawk international helicopter simulation market and UAS crew training, as underscored by our recent win of the Predator Mission Aircrew Training System recompete,” the veteran industry spokesperson, Rick Oyler, said.

Scalable Display Technologies - continues to deliver software that automatically blends multiple projectors into scalable definition unified displays. Andrew Jamison, CEO, noted the maturity of solid state projectors (LED & Laser) is starting to have a significant effect on the market. “The Total Cost of Ownership is coming down while the quality of display systems is improving …”

VT MÄK - continues to make it easier to create and use simulations. Morgan Moretz, stated “… we’ll show you how to reduce operator workload and increase development productivity.” Moretz also pointed out that visitors to the company’s product kiosks will see how her colleagues re-energized simulation behaviors, amped up visual capabilities, and expanded interoperability to new platforms and protocols.

Saab - will show the new MOUT capabilities, which were delivered to Sweden this year.

The Saab booth will also present the new next-generation laser-based combat vehicle tactical engagement simulation system (CVTESS) which Saab is delivering to the US Army, as well as the new radio communication system IRS for live training, and the new Personnel Detection Device (PDD).

M SM&ST& M T AMGAAGZAI N Z IEN E 3/5 4.2013

19 2 5

Military Games

Command Ops MS&T’s Michael Peck test-drives Panther Games’ recently released ‘Command Ops: Battles for Greece’.

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here is the line between game and simulation? For military training and education games, that's the ultimate question. The appeal of games is that they are to make training less onerous and more engaging.

But too much gaminess negates the value of the simulation. For military games, fun is a means, not an end.

The Command Ops series of computer wargames from Panther Games, bridges this divide. Command Ops is a family of World War II operational-level wargames that are enjoyed by civilian gamers and yet have been used by the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College and the Australian military. Designed by former Australian Army reserve officer Dave O'Connor, Command Ops has been around for a decade, but the engine was updated in 2010 with the debut of Command Ops: Battles for the Bulge and Highway to the Reich. This summer saw the release of the Battles for Greece expansion, [http://www. matrixgames.com/products/503/details/Command.Ops:.Battles. for.Greece] an updated simulation of the 1941 German invasion of Greece that ejected Commonwealth forces from their toehold on the European mainland. If nothing else, the choice of topic proves that the designer is Australian, because no Yank would design a computer game on the Greek fiasco.

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The most striking aspect of Command Ops is that it looks exactly like a real military constructive simulation. The map and the square icons representing units would not appear out of place in a tactical operations center. The game is real-time but pausable, so players can think about their moves instead engaging in the clicking frenzy required by most real-time games.

Not surprisingly, the essence of Command Ops is command. Put simply, a player will have some control over his forces, but not total control. Players issue basic orders, such as Move, Attack, Probe, or Secure a River Crossing, to a company or platoon. In turn, there will be a delay depending on the distance from the unit to its HQ, as well as the quality of the HQ (headquarters are rated for the competence of their commanders as well as their staffs). The player can set way-

Command Ops is a family of World War II operational-level wargames.

Screenshot credit: Panther Games/ Matrix Games.

points, but otherwise the AI will choose the route and deploy the unit when it reaches its objective. Command Ops brilliantly demonstrates how a force with better command capabilities can more quickly respond to changing battlefield conditions. There is a big difference between the 1941 German army in Battles for Greece and the battered 1944 German forces in Battles for the Bulge.

Such a system is only as good as its AI, and Panther Games is not shy about claiming that its AI is the best. The pride is not misplaced. Playing the "Foothills of the Gods" scenario in Battles for Greece, I ordered a German recon company to scout what appeared to be a New Zealander defense line. The unit automatically chose to move down the highway, deployed into combat formation when it encountered resistance, and then retreated to high ground. Those were the same moves I would have made, except I didn't have to. The AI took care of it all, versus some defense simulations that require platoons of pucksters to sit at terminals and manually move a tank company down a road because the AI might drive it into a swamp.

Instructors will tell you that in the military classroom, there is too much material and too little time to waste learning a complicated game. Because much of Command Ops is automated, players don't have to make too many choices, which means a small scenario can be finished in an hour.

This can be a problem for some wargamers who play for entertainment, because many players enjoy diving into the

details of battlefield command. And for those who do, Command Ops allows players to adjust everything from the tactical formation of an infantry company to the rate of fire and ammunition consumption of an artillery battery. Players who want to keep an eagle eye on their forces can click a few tabs to see a unit's unit morale, fatigue, supply, suppression level, and more. But what is important is that such micromanagement is an option, not a necessity.

Command Ops simulates well the C4I issues of World War II battalion-to-corps-level combat, and probably would work with modern battles and communications systems. Satellite communications and Blue Force Tracking notwithstanding, command and control is and always will be an issue. I'm not so sure how well it would handle the sort of "small war" combat of the 21st Century, but even in counterinsurgency, skillful battlefield command is still paramount. Besides, armies still must prepare for conventional combat.

Panther Games has unsuccessfully tried for years to interest the U.S. military in using its games as standard teaching tools (a challenge shared by other designers of high-fidelity games, such as Jim Lunsford's Decisive Point [http://www.decisive-point. com]). The reasons are depressing, such as "not designed here" and perhaps a little jealousy that a $70 game can deliver so much compared to multimillion-dollar defense simulation. That's too bad, because in an era of declining defense budgets, a small, efficient, command-focused computer game is just the ticket. mst

Military Flight Simulator Census

Need to find military aircraft? simulators around the world The Military Flight Simulator Census gives comprehensive data on 2,341 military aircraft simulators around the world. Information includes salient technical data such as motion and visual system details as well as the manufacturer and equivalent civil level.

halldale.com/sim-census MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

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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 Cubic Defense Systems has won several contracts worth more than $125 million for combat training support requirements in the Asia Pacific region. The fully-funded contracts range from five to six years duration and offer expansion opportunities in collective training, operations and maintenance, and certain program management and range modernization efforts.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) is the next generation multirole fighter aircraft of the United States’ Navy, Air Force, Marines and its allies. RGB Spectrum's DGy™ JPEG2000 recording systems are deployed in the F-35 Lightning II JSF full mission simulators to deliver the recording capability for after-action-review. The system uses advanced JPEG2000 compression to achieve visually lossless recording, and provide results superior to other compression schemes by encoding every frame and the entire color spectrum. DGy units are used in the F-35's multiple pilot pods, recording everything the pilots observe during maneuvers, including avionics, out-thewindow imagery, target acquisition, navigation, and weapons control.

Additional DGy units are utilized in the Instructor's Operator Station (IOS) and the After Action Review (AAR) facility. Mission simulations are simultaneously recorded and streamed to DGy decoders throughout the simulator and to a RGB Spectrum Multicast Video Server (MVS) for central storage and recording management. Following the mission 32

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Indra's advanced position air controller simulator (SIMFAC) has won NATO's top accreditation for day and night time missions. The system has been in operation since January 2011 at the Spanish Air Force's airbase in Alcantarilla (Murcia). This accreditation allows the SIMFAC to perform all sorts of training procedures during Close Air Support (CAS) operations in levels 1, 2 and 3, Urban-CAS and Emergency-CAS, and allows any allied country to train its staff with the simulator.

The system recreates the different aircraft guiding missions of an advanced controller including the identification of objectives, location of allies, air control in improvised runways, support for operations in urban environments and under any meteorological condition.

simulation, DGy codecs are used in the debriefing facility to replay the simulations for assessment of pilots' performance.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide will continue to be the only institution offering face-to-face aviation courses to members of the US military stationed in Europe, according to a contract with the Department of Defense that began Aug. 1. Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide campuses have been operating in Europe under a military contract since 1974. The contract, often referred to as the Tri-Service Education contract, is for 10 years, one base year with nine “option” years.

It allows Embry-Riddle Worldwide to provide undergraduate and graduate degree programs to Army, Navy and Air Force service members and civilians on US military installations within the United States European Command (EUCOM).

Saab has received a MSEK 100 order for the delivery of explosive training artillery ammunition that will be produced and delivered during 2013 and 2014. The order will be carried out by Saab’s Swiss subsidiary Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland (SBDS) and includes the manufacture and delivery of explosive training artillery grenades. The scope of work consists of the conversion of live rounds

Swedish Armed Forces Flight Physiological Centre Some 40km south of Kvärn, just outside the town of Linköping, is the Swedish Armed Forces Flight Physiological Centre (FPC). Until two years ago, the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) operated this purpose-built facility, but management of it has been outsourced. It is now operated on FMV’s behalf by QinetiQ (Sweden), albeit with few changes in personnel. Facilities at the centre include a Dynamic Flight Simulator (DFS), hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers, and a test pool. The centre is used extensively for the physiological testing of candidates for the Swedish Air Force, as part of the selection procedure, and for G-awareness and tolerance training for those destined for the SwAF’s front line fighter, the JAS39 Gripen; to these ends, there is a strong flight surgeon element to the staff.

The DFS has been operational since 2003; developed by WYLE Laboratories in the US, it has a 30-ft arm, is powered by a 1900Kw motor, and weighs 93 tons. Maximum G is 15 and, impressively, Rate of Onset is up to 10G/sec. The two axis, 3-DOF cupola, which can achieve high angular accelerations in pitch and roll, is representative of a Gripen cockpit, but can be adapted to other inserts. It is equipped with stick and throttle controls and a limited flat-screen visual, but is not intended for synthetic training other than in high-g manoeuvring. Dynamic profiles can be initiated from the cupola, controlled by the operator, or pre-programmed.

The data acquisition system allows the measurement and analysis of technical and biomedical signals, including as G-force, G-regulator pressure, ECG and blood pressure.

into training rounds with SBDS performing the technical alteration, the filling of the target marking and explosive components as well as the final assembling.

Intelligent Decisions (ID), Inc., an IT systems integrator, has partnered with Applied Research Associates (ARA) and Epic Games, Inc. as a new member in the Unreal Government Network (UGN). Intelligent Decisions licensed Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) from ARA to produce 3D training technology and simulation content in support of a contract with the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM). The contract focuses on improving the fidelity of autonomous avatars’ behavior within the Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS) simulation to create a realistic training environment.

SDS International has been awarded a competitive, multiyear contract by the USAF Air Combat Command to perform U-2 and T-38 Contract Aircrew Training and Courseware Development and training for support staff personnel.

The contract may be modified in the future to include additional training, including training for the RQ-4 (Global Hawk) program. SDS personnel will conduct academic and training device instruction in support of formal course syllabi, training plans, event instructor guides and Continuation Training (CT). Training will be given to formal course students, permanent party aircrew and U-2 operational support personnel to accomplish required event objectives and specific event tasks.

The hypobaric chamber has two modules, the smaller of which is used for testing equipment and training pilots for flight at extreme altitude (up to 30,000m), and the larger for decompression, pressure breathing and hypoxia training, with a particular view to allowing each trainee to identify his or her personal symptoms of hypoxia, in order to allow early recognition of the condition. The hyperbaric chamber comprises a main chamber and an entry lock, and is primarily intended for the training of divers, but can also be used for medical emergencies such as decompression sickness, testing of equipment, research and hyperbaric treatment. The main chamber is camera-supervised and the environment is monitored by oxygen and carbon dioxide sensing instruments. Maximum depth is 50m.

The pool is used for pilot training, research and equipment testing, but is limited by size for collective training. Wave, wind and rain can be replicated, as well as fully variable light conditions, and the pool is fitted with winching equipment. The facilities are also used by a variety of research organisations, such as the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).

Recent studies include work on spatial disorientation, and the effects of motion sickness on performance. Spare capacity is utilised for providing training for other air forces. It has also been used for reconstructing flight profiles for crash investigation purposes.

This was a most interesting visit; there is not much at FPC which cannot be found in similar facilities around the world, but the Swedish Armed Forces always present a unique perspective on common issues. – Dim Jones

Flight Simulation Conference

digital media convergence in flight simulation and training design, delivery and acquisition london / 20 november 2013 technologies such as those found in smart phones, tablets, other hand held devices, & multi-media technologies can change the way we create simulations, deliver training content & interact with each other. this conference will examine the developments in the context of flight simulation, flight crew training and aircraft maintenance training. www.aerosociety.com/events Sponsors

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World News & Analysis

US Air Force C-17 Training System Update This July L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) formally unveiled its new C-17 Training System (TS) site at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio. L-3 Link has been providing annual refresher and currency training since June to more than 120 Air Force Reserve C-17 pilots and loadmasters assigned to the Dayton-based 445th Airlift Wing, 89th Airlift Squadron. Hands-on operations training is conducted in both a C-17 Weapon Systems Trainer (WST) and C-17 Loadmaster Station Trainer (LST).

Lenny Genna, the company’s president, pointed out that in the six weeks the TS site had been operational, “we already conducted 175 training hours with 60-plus simulator events. That’s a lot of training and great progress.”

The Link-led industry team and their responsibilities in the largest TS contract under the purview of the service’s Air Mobility Command (AMC), consists of Boeing and FlightSafety (delivered the WSTs), AAI (provides logistics support), DRG (furnishes technical logistic support), C2 (supplies courseware) and Eagle Systems (provides instructors).

“About 18 percent of the contract is allocated to small business which exceeds the Air Force requirement of 15 percent,” Rod Shrader, Link’s Director of Air Force Programs, told MS&T. The training device count for the entire US Air Force C-17 TS program is more than 190 aircrew training devices and 35 maintenance training devices. The learning technologies help train more than 1,500 aircrew members throughout the Globemaster force.

The WPAFB C-17 training site facility is the 12th operational training center for the program. In the fourth quarter of 2013, L-3 Link will also open a new C-17 TS facility at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, NY. Additional C-17 TS sites are planned for Memphis Air National Guard Base in Memphis, and Martinsburg Air National Guard Base in Martinsburg, WV. All C-17 TS sites are expected to be operational not later than Fiscal Year 2014.

The crown jewel of the C-17 technology suite is the WST. Moog

Six15 Technologies (formerly the Tactical Display Group of Vuzix) has announced the release of a high definition, binocular system designed for simulation and training.

Six15 have been working with Fidelity Technologies Corporation to develop an innovative product that meets the needs of Department of Defense Joint Tactical Air Controllers (JTACs). The SimEx 585 introduces industry-leading performance in a binocular head mounted display. The integration of dual 1920 x 1200 OLED displays, standard HDMI video input and an integrated head tracker delivers a fully immersive simulation experience. This performance is provided in a package weighing less than 225 grams, which consumes less than 2.6W of power and has a flip-up center mount compatible with standard head straps and helmets.

Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Warren King, has formally accepted the delivery of the first of two MRH90 helicopter simulators at the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey, Queensland, 34

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provides the electric motion base and control loading system.

FlightSafety’s Vital X visual system delivers the 235 deg. (horizontal) x 50 deg. (vertical) field-of-view (FOV) for the device’s training audience.

Tracy Mead, Boeing’s program manager for the C-17 Aircrew Training System, noted this trainer also has high fidelity, simulated avionics systems. “The avionics very, very closely match the actual avionics installed in the aircraft, but allows those aircraft units to be returned to spares inventory, enhancing the availability of spare parts for aircraft operation,” he explained. The LST is linked to the WST to permit the crew to train as it will operate – together.

One huge benefit to be accrued to the Air Force Reserve in the operation of this TS site is cost avoidance of travel and related expenses. Colonel Stephen Goeman, the 445th Airlift Wing’s commander, pointed out “the cost savings is critical for us. We don’t have to send our folks down to Mississippi [172d Airlift Wing, Jackson] every three months to get the training. We can do it here.”

“Even better is the ability that we’re going to have to bring our crew members up ‘to the next level’. The training provided by L-3 is going to get us there. The ‘box’ is state-of-the-art. Thank you, Boeing/ FlightSafety for that. The next step is we’re going to get our folks in here and you’ll hopefully work them very hard when they come up for the training,” Goeman pointed out, but more significantly added, “and all of the training we can normally do in the airplane we can do here – to simulate it.”

The operational commander was also asked about AMC’s nearterm intentions to migrate more on-board training into WTSs to help offset the loss of flight hours from sequestration and other current budget constraints. “That’s Air Force-wide, they want to go with that,” he remarked and added that while details have not been finalized, “they [the simulator flight hours] certainly won’t be any less. We’ll probably do more and more.” – Marty Kauchak

Australia. The simulator allows Army and Navy pilots to practice their skills in all flight regimes, day or night, and accurately reproduces the feel of the aircraft in flight. Mr. King acknowledged the contribution made by DMO, Army, Navy and industry for their contribution in developing and supporting Australian Defence Force (ADF) MRH90 helicopter training. A second simulator will be installed at the main MRH90 operational base in Townsville during 2014.

TRAINING DEVICES & SERVCES SOFTWARE Havok™ has entered an enterprise agreement with Raydon Corporation, a developer of virtual training systems. The agreement will give Raydon access to Havok’s simulation development framework to help streamline upcoming projects and deliver high-quality content as quickly and accurately as possible to their customers. Raydon specializes in the development of new training systems for gunnery, maneuver and critical tasks.

Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), in partnership with Calytrix Technologies, SimCentric and Alelo, has been awarded the US Army's 'Games for Training' (GFT) contract. Primed by Calytrix, the five-year program, based on the new Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) simulation product, delivers the next generation of game-based training technology to the US Army. VBS3 is backwards compatible to facilitate re-use of VBS2 scenarios and content, and will run on hardware compatible with VBS2. In addition to VBS3 being delivered to the US Army, it will also be provided as a normal software update to the United States Marine Corps, both the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and the Swedish Armed Forces. VBS3 will also be provided to industry partners with a valid Virtual Battlespace Developer Network (VBSDN) subscription at the time VBS3 is released worldwide, which is expected to be in early 2014.

VISUAL SYSTEMS Christie® has introduced its new Christie Matrix WU7K-J 3-chip DLP® projector, that the company says delivers real-world simulation to handle challenging display requirements. The projector features 6,300 ANSI lumens, full scalability, built-in geometric warping and edge blending, and high performance image processing with 120Hz capability.

The Christie Matrix J Series models come standard with Christie AccuFrame™ that are specifically designed to address the needs of the simulation market; this feature allows the user adjustable reduction of perceptible image smearing and supports various frame rates and environments, ensuring the accurate display of high-speed simulation content. Built-in image warping and advanced edge blending is provided

by Christie Twist™.ARMY The D2 TEAM-Sim division of

CAE USA has been awarded a United States Air Force (USAF) contract to provide comprehensive Predator and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) aircrew training services. Under terms of the contract, which was awarded as a one-year base contract for approximately US$20 million with four one-year options, CAE USA will provide classroom, simulator, and live flying instruction as well as courseware development in support of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper training programs. Training will be delivered at four USAF bases where approximately 1,500 MQ-1/MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators train annually.

Appliedinfo Partners has won a multi-year contract from the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) for an enterprise license agreement in support of The Army Distributed Learning Program (TADLP). The agreement gives the US Army Schoolhouses the capability to design and develop Distributed Learning (DL) content using D2 Interactive Multimedia Framework (DIF™), a cloud-based authoring environment.DIF is an intuitive, browser-based solution that allows the cataloging, maintenance and reuse of media assets for updating existing courses and creating new courseware. It allows integration of images, video, 2D and 3D graphics, SWF, HTML5 interactivity, NGRAIN and UNITY game-based simulations along with previously developed content to create new courses. Content can be developed once and published to multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows devices.

Charles River Analytics has announced its latest contract, Tourniquet Master Training, or TMT, which aims to aid warfighters treating injuries on the battlefield. It was awarded by the US Army Medical

Research Acquisition Activity and is managed by the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) Medical Simulation & Training Technologies team.

Charles River Analytics is designing and demonstrating TMT to teach, assess, and provide refresher training on new tourniquet technology, specifically the Combat Ready Clamp™ (CRoC), and the Abdominal Aortic Tourniquet™ (AAT).

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is to develop UH-60 Black Hawk MEDEVAC air crew training systems for the US Army. Kratos will provide multiple simulated full-fidelity Medical Support Equipment Suite (MSES) trainers to teach Flight Medic students how to operate all on-board systems. The MSES is a full-fidelity training system that provides Flight Medics the training required to treat, stabilize and provide in-flight medical care to the critically injured or ill whilst being transported aboard the air ambulance. The simulated systems replicate the confined environment of the air ambulance and include a fully functional Medical Interior Kit. The training system will also support scenario-based team mission training, where teams will be able to use an authentic training MS&T MAGAZINE 5.2013

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World News & Analysis environment for communication, patient loading and unloading, and patient care while they address obstruction issues under day, night and Night Vision Goggle (NVG) conditions.

AIR FORCE CAE has been awarded a contract

by BAE Systems to provide three Hawk Mk127 full mission simulators for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The simulators are part of a comprehensive upgrade and training systems support package that BAE Systems will be providing to the RAAF under the Project AIR5438 program. CAE will design and manufacture three Hawk Mk127 full mission simulators that will each include a high-fidelity replica of the Hawk cockpit surrounded by an 11-foot projection dome display featuring the CAE Medallion-6000 image generator and Boeing's Constant Resolution Visual System. The simulators will be delivered to RAAF Base Williamtown

and RAAF Base Pearce in 2016 and 2017.

L-3 Communications’ Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) division has won the recompete contract for the US Air Force’s Predator Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) program. The contract awarded by the US Air Force’s Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, includes transitional funding that extends through September 2013, in addition to six one-year contract options. Initial transitional funding will be used to provide L-3 Link’s ongoing contractor logistics support and Training System Support Center activities for all 26 PMATS devices located at Air Force installations throughout the continental United States. The Air Force could exercise contract options calling for L-3 Link to build over 50 additional PMATS devices. L-3 Link will also be responsible for followon concurrency between PMATS devices and the unmanned aircraft through 2019.

COMPANY NEWS QinetiQ has officially opened their new Training and Simulation Services office in Orlando. "We are delighted to be investing in the US modeling and simulation market in Orlando," said Dr. Miles Adcock, managing director of QinetiQ's Training and

Minehound Virtual Trainer Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) present a serious threat to service members in Afghanistan and are expected to be a continuing strategic weapon of influence in the future. Since 2011, the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has managed a JIEDDO program to develop handheld detector (HHD) home station training (HST) sites at selected Army, Navy, and Air Force installations. HST sites provide a venue for service members to become proficient in the use of a variety of HHDs, to include the “Minehound,” a dual sensor HHD. Trained personnel at each HST site provide instruction, both classroom and practical, on the Minehound. Of concern is the time gap between receipt of this training and deployment to theatre - up to six months. Effective Minehound employment requires trained operators who have practiced extensively with the detector; skills learned in the classroom and on HST lanes quickly erode without practice.

To address this critical training requirement, ARL developed the Minehound Virtual Trainer (MVT). ARL surveyed experienced Minehound operators/instructors to determine features required in a skills proficiency maintenance training system. Results indicated a need for refresher training on the Minehound “buttonology” - steps required to operate the detector to its full capacity. The Minehound requires specific procedures to operate in each of its four modes: metal detection (MD), ground penetrating radar (GPR), both MD and GPR independently, and Gated mode.

The Minehound has several settings - change procedures that 36

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require the user to hold buttons while pressing others. It was for this reason that the primary user input device for the emulator was chosen to be the keyboard. A direct mapping of the four detector buttons to the -, C, +, and M (for Mode) keys on the keyboard allows users to interact with the MVT in the same way they would with the Minehound - by pressing buttons.

The MVT provides the operator with an understanding of what changes in settings do for the user - not only how, but why an operator would want to change particular settings for the MD and GPR. Key operating characteristics modeled include user controls and impact on operation, operator stimuli, response to different buried objects, and response to different soil types. Every button and audio/visual signal that the operator sees and hears on a Minehound is represented.

The MVT shows the user what is occurring below the surface where IEDs are located. It provides a visual depiction of conditions and settings where IEDs can be detected. Due to the dynamic nature of how both the MD and GPR operate, it was clear that the best way for users to understand the workings of the detector was for the user to be able to move the detector on his or her own.

Included in the MVT are not only all the audio signals of the detector done to this point, but also all the sounds made by both sensors (MD and GPR) when interacting with the environment. In addition to the sounds and detection features, MVT also provides visual cues for both MD and GPR detections. - Marty Kauchak

Boeing has delivered a training center for the C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the New York Air National Guard's 150th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base, enabling the wing to cut costs by training pilots and loadmasters onsite. The delivery is part of a $44 million contract awarded in December 2010 to deliver C-17 Weapon Systems Trainers (WSTs) to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.

Simulation Services business. "We are looking forward to further developing our existing relationships in Florida and bringing our learning and capabilities into the region to help industry, government, and most importantly, the US Department of Defense, to increase performance and achieve significant cost savings," Adcock said. Michael J. Motko, a retired US Air Force Officer and fighter pilot leads the Orlando office, located in the Research Park on UCF's campus. Motko has worked in the Training and Simulation industry for more than 15 years, and also serves as an Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) Sub-Committee Chair and is Vice President of the Central Florida Navy League.

Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) has been honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for its research and development work in support of the Strategic Integrated Approach Pilot Training initiative for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ECS supports the Customer Care Team in the Infrastructure Information Collection Division (IICD) at DHS under a contract through the Army's Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC). The current pilot program leverages research and development work funded through the STTC during that period. ECS developed a 3D virtual world platform and several sophisticated simulation exercises to train critical infrastructure assessment skills. Additionally, ECS created interactive computer-based training materials and delivers those materials to DHS using a learning management system. The Customer Care Team was recognized as the Team of the Quarter and cited for its work developing training for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial governments. The six 90-minute training webinars will serve as the foundation for ECS' work to create the next generation of online training.

Northrop Grumman Corporation held the second annual meeting for domestic users of its Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (CEESIM) systems, where 28 military and industrial personnel from 13 organizations received customized hands-on training and real-time demonstrations

of the latest CEESIM enhancements. Attendees participated in real-time demonstrations of the latest generation of CEESIM digital hardware and low-cost radio frequency (RF) synthesis technology as well as the Compact Signal Measurement System and Automated Test software tools. Users were also taken through the steps necessary to upgrade and enhance existing CEESIM systems to provide increased reliability and maintainability. The Northrop Grumman CEESIM is a simulator that generates complex dynamic electromagnetic environments to simulate true-to-war conditions.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES Raymond Duquette has been named president and general manager of CAE USA. In this position, Duquette will report to General Michael E. Ryan, United States Air Force (Ret.) and chairman of the Board of CAE USA. Duquette will be responsible for the general management and operation of CAE USA. Duquette succeeds John Lenyo, who served as President and General Manager of CAE USA for the past 12 years.

Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has accepted the latest generation CAE GESI command and staff training system as ready-for-training. The constructive simulation system is now being used at the German Army Combat Simulation Center in Wildflecken.

The CAE GESI constructive simulation software is a synthetic environment that allows commanders to train command and control procedures under realistic conditions. It simulates the complete mission area, but commanders have the responsibility to take action and make decisions based on how the simulated exercises evolve.

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World News & Analysis Calendar SHOW REVIEW Super Games Event Held in Germany gamescom 2013, the world’s largest computer and video games fair, held from 21 to 25 August 2013 in Cologne, presented a new dimension in entertainment and business. More than 340,000 visitors celebrated the “next generation of gaming”. Some 635 exhibitors from 40 countries introduced 400 world premieres on 140,000 square metres of exhibition space. “gamescom 2013 was a complete success for consumers, manufacturers and the market,” said Dr Maximilian Schenk, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU).

Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of the trade show organiser Koelnmesse stated, “Gamescom clearly heads the ranking of major German fairs.”

Gamers from around the world were in paradise, albeit a crowded one. And what about those who were looking for the “serious” side of gaming? The obvious answer is that the target audience is the player community and not the world of teaching and learning. VBS-maker Bohemia Interactive, for example, was there to present two games. Yet it is interesting to see that there is also a new clientele that likes to do seemingly banal things like drive a streetcar or train, a bulldozer or a crane in the same way as people used to love to fly a plane on the MS Flight Simulator - not because they wanted to become a pilot but only to play the pilot. These applications look quite realistic, but their system depth is not sufficient for genuine real-world replication, as one developer confirmed. Many educational institutions, both private and public, had stands at gamescom 2013. They all offered interesting information on topics such as game engineering, game art and 3D animation, or more generally applied computer science - naturally with the aim of winning more game enthusiasts for the professional game industry. A good example of how to

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involve youngsters very early on in serious simulation activities is the GH4 Flight Simulator made by the “School of Flight Pupil Workgroup”.

Under the guidance of the engineer Sergej Buragin, a handful of grammar school pupils built a low-cost flight simulator for use by aerial sports clubs or simply for entertainment purposes. The GH4 has been entered in the EADS competition “Flight of Ideas 2013”.

The video game industry is the fastestgrowing component of the international media sector. Analysts predict that the global video game industry will exceed $76 billion in 2013.

– Walter F. Ullrich

Simulation & training events organised by Halldale Group 29-30 October 2013 EATS 2013 – European Airline Training Symposium Estrel Hotel, Berlin, Germany www.halldale.com/eats 1-3 April 2014 WATS 2014 – World Aviation Training Conference & Tradeshow Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Orlando, Florida, USA www.halldale.com/wats 23-24 September 2014 APATS 2014 – Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium Centara Grand Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand www.halldale.com/apats

Other simulation & training events

Index of Ads Bohemia Interactive www.bisimulations.com CAE www.cae.com

8 October 2013 13

OBC

Dytecna www.dytecna.com

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Fidelity Technologies Corporation www.fidelitytech.com

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4th Low-Cost Training Trends & Technology London, UK www.t3web.org 15-16 October 2013 MTSA (Military Training & Simulation Asia) Singapore www.milsimasia.com 17-18 October 2013 NMSG (NATO Modelling & Simulation Group) Fall Conference

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10 & 11

Sydney, Australia www.cso.nato.int 2-5 December 2013 I/ITSEC 2013

Military Sim Census www.halldale.com/sim-census

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Orlando, Florida, USA www.iitsec.org

MS&T Magazine www.halldale.com/mst

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11-16 February 2014 Singapore Airshow

MS&T Magazine Subscriptions www.halldale.com/mst

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RAeS www.aerosociety.com

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Raydon www.raydon.com IFC RGB Spectrum www.rgb.com

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SAAB www.saabgroup.com

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T3 – Low-Cost Training Trends & Tech. Seminar www.t3web.org 21

Singapore www.singaporeairshow.com

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

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Albania • Algeria • Argentina • Australia • Austria • Bangladesh • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada Chad • Chile • China • Colombia • Costa Rica • Czech Republic • Canada • Denmark • Ecuador • Egypt El Salvador • Estonia • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Ghana • Great Britain • Greece • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Ireland • Israel • Italy • Jamaica • Japan • Jordan • Kuwait • Lebanon Libya • Lithuania • Malaysia • Mexico • Morocco • Netherlands • New Zealand • Nigeria • Norway Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Peru • Philippines • Poland • Romania • Russia • Saudi Arabia Singapore • Slovakia • South Africa • South Korea • Spain • Sri Lanka • Sweden • Switzerland Taiwan • Thailand • Turkey • Ukraine • United Arab Emirates • United Kingdom • Uruguay • Yemen w w w. i i T s e c. o r g u d e c e m b e r 2 - 5 , 2 0 1 3 u o r l a n d o, F l o r i d a

experience

It’s true … CAE is the world’s C-130 training partner. No other company has designed and delivered more training systems for the legendary Hercules aircraft.

We are Lockheed Martin’s partner of choice in developing a range of simulators and training devices for the latest C-130J variant. CAE has developed C-130J training systems for the Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, various branches of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, Indian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Kuwait Air Force.

We also provide a variety of training support services such as maintenance and logistics support, classroom and simulator instruction, and training device upgrades to C-130J operators worldwide.

CAE’s global presence, experience, and simulation technology leadership all come together in our development of world-class C-130J training systems and services.

CAE is a world-class training systems integrator for transport aircraft such as the C-130J, offering expert instructors, high-fidelity aircrew training devices and comprehensive training services.

cae.com milsim@cae.com @CAE_Defence