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America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine

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Training Innovator Dr. James T. Blake PEO PEO STRI

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December 2013 Volume 18, Issue 8

Exclusive Interview with: Capt. Craig Dorrans Program Manager Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges

2014 Look Ahead O Simulator Upgrades O Embedded Training HMMWV Gunnery Training O Urban Operations O LOMAH

The MetaVRC 3 cm per-pixel resolution imagery collection platform for real-time terrain visualization is now in operation.

See the aircraft and demonstration at I/ITSEC Booth #1249.

Real-time screen capture is from MetaVR’s visualization system of the 3D virtual terrain of a geospecific area with 3 cm per pixel imagery collected by the MetaVRC™ platform. The operational readiness testing of the MetaVRC was performed as described by the FAA and AMA applicable airspace operation rules and regulations. (AMA National Safety Code and FAA AC 91-57.) Data was collected as part of this testing. This screen capture is unedited except as required for printing. The real-time rendering of the 3D virtual world is generated

by MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™). 3D model is from MetaVR’s 3D content libraries. © 2013 MetaVR, Inc. All rights reserved. MetaVR, Virtual Reality Scene Generator, VRSG, MetaVRC, the phrase “Geospecific simulation with game quality graphics,” and the MetaVR logo are trademarks of MetaVR, Inc.

military Training technology Features

December 2013 Volume 18, Issue 8

Cover / Q&A

14

Simulator Upgrades

When funds are not available to purchase new simulators for training, it is vital for military commands to update simulators in use to maintain the highest fidelity possible to train the warfighter.

By Brian O’Shea

36

Special section:

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

19

A look at the leadership and top 10 contracts of one of the Navy’s largest commands, Naval Air Systems Command. Also includes an exclusive interview with Captain Craig Dorrans of the Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205).

Marksmanship Training

A recent demonstration of a new marksmanship training system showed how it helps sniper students and their instructors.

By Mike Casey

29 Dr. James T. Blake

5

HMMWV Gunnery Training

Ground vehicles such as HMMWVs are key components in almost any ground operation, and warfighters need to be trained to defend or assault a position when the situation arises.

By Brian O’Shea

8

Embedded Training

Departments 2 Editor’s Perspective 4 Program Highlights/People 18 data packets 42 Team orlando 43 Resource Center

10

38

Military operations can take place all over the globe, so warfighters need to be prepared for any environment for mission success— including urban settings. The U.S. military has some of the most sophisticated military operations on urban terrain training facilities in the world.

By Brian O’Shea

Industry leaders discuss how the market for modeling and simulation training solutions will evolve over the next year.

Urban Operations

Systems that are currently being fielded sometimes have training systems embedded within them to train the warfighter while deployed. These training systems are crucial to maintaining combat readiness.

By henry Canaday

PEO PEO STRI

2014 Look Ahead

Industry Interview W. Garth Smith

Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer MetaVR Inc.

44

As one of the largest providers of “Civilians on the Battleeld/Roleplayer” training services to the US Government, Tatitlek has enabled over 150,000 military warghters to better understand their adversaries in theater-specic operations.

www.tatitlek.com

“PEO STRI is looking for integrated technology solutions that provide training capabilities.

Ideally, industry would facilitate integration of technology through partnerships between technology companies and development/ integration companies during proposal development.”

- Dr. James T. Blake

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Military Training Technology Volume 18, Issue 8 • December 2013

Recognized Leader Covering All Aspects of Military Training Readiness Editorial Editor Brian O’Shea briano@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura McNulty lauram@kmimediagroup.com Copy Editor Sean Carmichael seanc@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents J.B. Bissell • Christian Bourge • Peter Buxbaum Henry Canaday • Danielle Cralle • Hank Hogan Erin Flynn Jay • Karen Kroll • Cynthia Webb

Art & Design Art Director Jennifer Owers jennifero@kmimediagroup.com Senior Graphic Designer Jittima Saiwongnuan jittimas@kmimediagroup.com Graphic Designers Scott Morris scottm@kmimediagroup.com Eden Papineau edenp@kmimediagroup.com Amanda Paquette amandak@kmimediagroup.com Kailey Waring kaileyw@kmimediagroup.com

Advertising Associate Publisher Lindsay Silverberg lindsays@kmimediagroup.com

KMI Media Group Chief Executive Officer Jack Kerrigan jack@kmimediagroup.com Publisher and Chief Financial Officer Constance Kerrigan connik@kmimediagroup.com Executive Vice President David Leaf davidl@kmimediagroup.com Editor-In-Chief Jeff McKaughan jeffm@kmimediagroup.com Controller Gigi Castro gcastro@kmimediagroup.com Trade Show Coordinator Holly Foster hollyf@kmimediagroup.com

Operations, Circulation & Production Operations Administrator Bob Lesser bobl@kmimediagroup.com Circulation & Marketing Administrator Duane Ebanks duanee@kmimediagroup.com Circulation Barbara Gill barbg@kmimediagroup.com Data Specialists Raymer Villanueva raymerv@kmimediagroup.com

As part of the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant initiatives, Governor Rick Scott has awarded more than $2 million for organizations that support Florida military installations, one being Orlando’s National Center for Simulation (NCS).

Of the $2 million plus, the NCS will receive $350,000 to reduce the risk of Team Orlando’s realignment or closure. Having worked with the outstanding staff of Team Orlando for several years, knowing steps are being taken to develop a strategy to prevent Team Orlando from closing is great news.

“This grant funding will match local contributions and allow community leaders to execute an action plan designed to protect, grow and enhance Brian O’Shea Editor Team Orlando and continue to deliver cost-effective training solutions to America’s warfighters,” Thomas L. Baptiste, president and executive director of the NCS, was reported telling the local media.

“These grants are vital to our military and defense programs, and the local economies that rely on the operation of those facilities,” said Gray Swoope, Secretary of Commerce and president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, which is administering the annual grant program.

Team Orlando is a vital partnership between the military, modeling and simulation industry and academic institutions. Team Orlando emphasizes improving human performance through simulation. They provide human performance and training systems support services to include development, acquisition management, delivery, and life cycle sustainment of simulation and training systems. Personnel include military, civilian and support contractors in the professional disciplines of program management, human performance, instructional systems design, engineering, training facilities engineering, logistics, contract management, economic analysis, budget and financial management, business operations and administrative support.

I tip my hat to the legislators in the state of Florida for seeing a need to preserve such a fine entity.

Oftentimes lawmakers are so concerned with the bottom line that they fail to see the ongoing benefits of preserving such partnerships, and I’m glad to see support like this is receiving the recognition it deserves. If you have any questions regarding Military Training Technology feel free to contact me at any time.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

JTAC Training Simulator used at Ramstein Rover 2013 MetaVR real-time 3-D visualization technology was used in an immersive dome simulator as part of an annual NATO exercise for training joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs)/forward air controllers (FACs). This year’s Ramstein Rover 2013 training event was held during September at the Namest Air Base, Czech Republic. Over the course of nine days some 45 JTAC teams from 17 countries executed 104 close air support simulation missions in the U.S. Air National Guard Advanced JTAC Training System (AAJTS) prototype simulator. The 4-meter dome AAJTS prototype uses MetaVR’s visuals and geospecific 3-D terrain.

Out of the 104 simulator missions, 96 missions passed and were accepted as valid training exercises by NATO. (Instructors did not pass trainees on eight missions as the missions were not completed within the allotted time.)

Missions included Type 1, 2, and 3 controls with laser designation and both day and night operations. The objective was to facilitate quality synthetic training in a joint fires environment, using NATO assets likely to be encountered in theater. Taking into account the capability and real-time decisions of the JTAC/FAC, the missions provided the means to emulate the different airborne platforms and weapon systems, which in turn enabled the JTAC trainees to exercise key decision-making skills. Processes such as weapon-to-target matching for effective, proportional response and theater rules of engagement were all put to the test throughout the simulation training missions in the AAJTS immersive environment.

The AAJTS is a fully immersive simulator designed to support U.S. Air National Guard JTAC and combat controller squadron-level continuation, qualification and mission rehearsal training.

The simulator encompasses high-fidelity visual displays, geo-specific visual databases, equipment emulators, and associated hardware and software.

The AAJTS is designed to meet the requirements for unit training at U.S. air support operations squadrons and special tactics squadrons.

The AAJTS is provided by QuantaDyn and is comprised of, in part, commercial off-the-shelf components provided by Battlespace Simulations (semi-automated forces and instructor operator station), Immersive Display Solutions (immersive dome), MetaVR (image generator and terrain), Close Air Solutions (training expertise), and ASTi (voice communication and sounds), all of which supported the AAJTS at the Ramstein Rover 2013 training event.

W. Garth Smith; wgsmith@metavr.com

Distributed Learning Contract Awarded NCI Inc., Reston, Va., was awarded a $16,326,175 contract to provide support to the Army National Guard Training Division and their distributed learning program.

Performance locations and funding will be determined with each order.

Lesley Rogers; lrogers@nciinc.com

PEOPLE General Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command (AETC), recently retired, ending a 35-year career of service and commitment to the U.S. Air Force. A command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, Rice retired after handing AETC’s reins over to General Robin Rand.

4 | MT2 18.8

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Rear Admiral Michael S. White will be assigned as commander, Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Fla. White is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, San Diego, Calif.

Brigadier General Edward M. Daly, special assistant to the commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Lee, Va., has been assigned to deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

$140 Million in Military Contracts CAE recently announced that it was awarded approximately $140 million in military contracts, including approximately $85 million to CAE USA alone. The U.S. contracts also include options valued at an additional $50 million over the next five years. The contracts are part of CAE’s second quarter order intake and are in addition to contracts already announced.

The contracts include an option exercise by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for the fourth year of KC-135 tanker aircrew training services, numerous KC-135 simulator upgrades, a new contract from the USAF to provide operations and maintenance support for new KC-135 boom operator weapon systems trainers (BOWST), a contract to develop a military helicopter full-mission simulator for an undisclosed customer and a contract to perform a range of upgrades on the German Air Force Tornado simulators.

“Our position on enduring platforms like the KC-135 tanker, and various military transport aircraft and helicopters continues to yield opportunities for CAE in the United States and abroad, particularly as our defense and security customers look to leverage simulation for an increasing portion of their training curriculum,” said Gene Colabattisto, CAE group president, military products and training and services.

“These contracts with multi-year options enhance our visibility in an otherwise hard-to-predict defense environment. We have been increasingly focused on long-term training services contracts in the United States and around the world, which give our business greater predictability, and we see a solid pipeline of opportunities globally.”

The U.S. Air Force has exercised the option for the fourth year of aircrew training services provided by CAE USA as the prime contractor on the KC-135 ATS program. CAE USA will continue to provide classroom and simulator instruction as well as provide additional training support services as new KC-135 BOWST are incorporated into the overall KC-135 training program. The U.S. Air Force has also awarded a range of modification contracts for CAE USA to upgrade and enhance KC-135 operational flight trainers and courseware.

CAE Elektronik GmbH was awarded contracts to perform several upgrades to the German Air Force Tornado full-mission simulators. CAE will upgrade the Tornado simulators to ensure concurrency with the avionics software system Tornado combat efficiency improvement program that is currently being performed on the German Air Force’s fleet of Tornado combat aircraft.

Chris Stellwag; chris.stellwag@caemilusa.com www.MT2-kmi.com

Simulation used in virtual convoy training scenario. [Photo courtesy of Saab AB]

Whether defending a convoy against an ambush of hostile insurgents or assaulting a stationary or mobile target, weapons systems on the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), commonly referred to as the humvee, are critical to mission success. Live training for such systems, including fuel, manpower and ammunition, can be costly, hence the use of simulated training systems.

The U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) has multiple systems at their disposal. Virtual BattleSpace 2 (VBS2) is a low fidelity desktop trainer and can be used to support basic target acquisition and fire command/crew coordination drills. The close combat tactical trainer (CCTT) also has a reconfigurable vehicle simulator (RVS) that is a full-fidelity HMMWV mock-up with a 360 degree virtual view, said Courtland E. Pegan, chief, virtual devices, Simulations Training Division, G-3, MCoE. Simulated weapons systems trained for include the M16A4, M4, AT4, 9mm, M203, M240, M249, M2 heavy machine gun, and the MK-19.

Captain James D. Gallagher, formally an A CO, 2-11 Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (IBOLC) company commander, currently an AS3 in 2-11 with the MCoE, used the RVS HMMWV trainer to give warfighters familiarization training on the M2 .50 cal. and M240B. “The benefit [of simulated training] for IBOLC is the ability to expose brand-new infantry lieutenants, future platoon leaders, to cost-effective resources to get after complex training scenarios that they can take with them to their follow-on units of assignment,” said Gallagher. “Simulators allow leaders to bring in a variety of terrain, different environments in regards to the enemy situational template, and weapons systems www.MT2-kmi.com

Training the warfighter to defend and attack during mobile operations.

By Brian O’Shea, MT2 Editor quickly and seamlessly, in order to expose soldiers and leaders to a multitude of challenges.”

Other benefits include environmental impacts being drastically reduced. Operations tempo and personnel tempo, which is time an individual spends away from home station, are also significantly reduced, said Pegan. She added that this approach is great for entry level into the crawl (beginner) and walk (intermediate) phases of training, but should never be considered for use in the run (advanced) phase of training.

While there are great benefits to simulated training, finding that perfect blend of live and simulated is the key to mission success.

“Simulators are just a facet of training crews and units effectively,” said Gallagher.

“Well-rounded training must always include the ‘real thing,’ and simulators, like the RVS, CCTT, engagement skills trainer, and call for fire trainer, fit right into the crawl-walk-run training methodology of nearly any training objective at the individual and collective level.

While nothing beats training your unit in the dirt, where the infantry must deal with the elements and effects of difficult climate, terrain and OPFOR [opposition force], simulators do provide a great and time-efficient way to expose units to operating in complex environments to test and develop TTPs [techniques, tactics and procedures] to best prepare for field training.”

He added that IBOLC’s four training companies will be using the RVS trainer more and more in the coming months and in FY 2014. As far as improvements from industry, Gallagher said he would like more vehicles included in the simulated trainers.

The HMMWV is a tried and tested vehicle, but infantry are typically using MRAP [mine resistant ambush protected] vehicles

downrange, as well as using of the common remotely operated weapon systems with those vehicles.

“More ability to incorporate those assets would be ideal,” he said.

Pegan agreed with Gallagher and added she would like to see better graphics and resolution as well as the development of optics for the various weapon systems.

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), does not currently have a program of record trainer for HMMWV gunnery training, said Army Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evans, product manager for ground combat tactical trainers, PEO STRI. However, they do use the RVS and the reconfigurable vehicle tactical trainers (RVTT), which a unit can train on collective convoy operations in a 360 degree immersive virtual training device. In terms of weapons systems covered in virtual training, they also use the RVS/RVTT to train soldiers on the M2 and M249 machine guns, and the MK19 grenade launcher. These weapons are not used for precision gunnery, but area weapons in accordance with local security requirements.

Evans said the benefits of using virtual trainers include significant cost savings. Fuel and maintenance costs are avoided, and a unit can run multiple missions using different terrain databases with hazards that are not easily replicated in a live environment.

However, there are challenges to using virtual training.

“The challenge with developing simulators for use in military training is the commercial gaming industry,” said Evans.

“Soldiers have grown accustomed to the high-fidelity graphics used in the first-person shooter games produced today. The military MT2 18.8 | 5

simulators are required to cover large (up to 160 square kilometers) geo-specific and geo-typical terrain databases and have the ballistic accuracy of live weapons, while the games re-use small (less than 1 kilometer) areas and lack ballistic accuracy. However, the military is starting to incorporate many of the gaming industry’s technologies. The virtual trainers will never and should never be viewed as replacing live training.”

He added that the military will continue leveraging the gaming industry’s advancements to enhance the trainers over time but is not currently looking for any specific requirements from industry.

“There’s no requirement to have additional support from industry at this time,” said Evans. “Performance, affordability and ability to produce the required quantities over a specified timeline are our priorities when we acquire/develop virtual training solutions.”

Saab Training USA (Saab) has provided convoy training for 30

Raydon’s Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer. [Photo courtesy of Raydon]

all mounted machine guns and remote weapyears using Saab’s several hundred live fire on stations and virtual simulators for the ranges and 28 instrumented laser simulasame weapons to include grenade launchtion ranges. Reactive targets, shoot-back ers in the U.S. Marine Corps instrumentable systems, portable instrumentation and simutactical engagement simulation system prolated improvised explosive devices are some gram since 2004,” said Clydesdale. of the many ways they provide a full range The virtual gunnery simof live tactical training for ulator provides training for convoy operations, said Bob individual weapon engageClydesdale, business developments and collective unit ment manager, Saab Training training. The crew compartUSA. Saab is now expanding ment is a full-scale mockinto the virtual training segup with replicas of different ment with a revolutionary sights and observation sysnew commercial off-the-shelf tems using high-resolution system fielded in Europe and displays and realistic conthe Middle East that provides trol functions. Wrap-around realistic presentations and Bob Clydesdale screens display a complete feedback during training exercises, simulating the opera- bob.clydesdale@saabtraining.com 360 degree view of the battlefield. tion of a variety of small arms The simulator is made to fit training in weapons, crew served weapons, indirect fire, different types of armored vehicles and trucks close air support and driver convoy training. with mounted machine guns to include “We have been supplying HMMWV weapweapon stations. The weapon simulators ons simulators that are instrumented mulrecoil using pressurized air in the magazine tiple integrated laser engagement system cartridges and communicate with a wireless [MILES] laser based for data link, eliminating all tethers. The soldiers can move freely in and around the vehicles just as they would in a tactical situation.

The hit detection system measures their true distance from the screen, displaying the virtual scenario to accurately replicate the time of flight and ballistic characteristics of each round fired. The weapon simulator is tracked in virtual space for highly accurate modeling of the environmental and ballistic effects in dynamic scenarios. Every round’s

Combat Driver Training Delivered for tracked, wheeled and rail-born vehicles Seamless multi-channel on-screen projection reduces simulator sickness effects Interchangeble cabin concept, static and with up to 6 DOF motion platform

Complete network support for convoy driving Combined CGF and autonomous traffic on roadways Shallow water simulation for amphibious vehicles | www.kmwsim.com |

Their individual gunner trainer systems trajectory, imagery and hit location is and the newer unstabilized gunnery trainer presented to the shooter in precision images (UGT)-individual and UGT-C (crew) trainers for real-time training feedback. Dynamic train gunnery at the individual and crew levmodels of enemy and friendly objects provide els for the M240 machinegun, M2 and MKdetailed and accurate vulnerability. The 19 AGL. Raydon has also developed a Stryker training performance data is recorded and gunnery trainer that can also be adapted to stored on the system for replay, scoring and provide remote weapon systems with these after action review. simulated vehicle systems.

“The virtual gunnery trainer is unique in “The most unique aspect our entire famits ability to network multiple training staily of wheeled vehicle gunnery training cations across a very large terrain data base for pabilities, the HMMWV trainers being one interactive training exercises,” said Clydesamongst many, is they mark a historic first; dale. for the first time, highly effective tactical He added that Saab plans to release virmaneuver training and true, doctrinal, pretual simulators with improved performance cision gunnery and scoring due to their high-resolution are available simultaneously image generation modeling on the same simulator,” said capability. The simulators Ernie Audino, brigadier genwill be programmed with eral, U.S. Army (Ret.), and seartificial intelligence to vary nior vice president, product the reactions for each exercapabilities and placement, cise, and packaged in a smallRaydon Corporation. “Moreer and easier to install and over, their hardware and use configuration in 2013. training content are moduThe U.S. Marine Corps lar, scalable and tailorable to uses Saab’s wireless HMMWV Ernie Audino help commanders precisely instrumented tactical enmatch training enablers to gagement simulators and eaudino@raydon.com their training objectives, the U.S. Air Force currently budget and time available to train. Consider fields Saab’s simulated military equipment, a library of “training apps” immediately availtraining weapons and aiming system. able for ready access by commanders and The Raydon Corporation’s HMMWV gununits and able to be loaded as appropriate nery training solutions include the virtual across a wide array of devices. We refer to combat operations trainer (VCOT) and mine these capabilities as nested virtual training resistant ambush protected vehicle virtual enablers, and they open up a world of opportrainer, and all Raydon maneuver trainers tunities for commanders.” do train gunnery and weapons employment.

Several active Army units and Army National Guard units currently field many of Raydon’s training systems. They plan to release the VCOT C4 soon. This is their fourth generation of this convoy training system. In this latest iteration, individual, crew and platoon gunnery are incorporated into a maneuver trainer, making it the only trainer to offer this unstabilized gunnery capability into an existing maneuver system.

“Training technology will evolve, no doubt, but the greatest evolution will occur in regards to novel, innovative and low-cost ways to access state-of-the-art virtual training,” said Audino. “It is not enough to envision an Army-wide training strategy that incorporates virtual training at levels far higher than ever before, if the Army cannot afford to resource that strategy via the usual methods.

The Army can have only the strategy it can afford. Knowing that, many Army leaders are beginning to look closely at the cost per soldier training hour as a key point of comparison between otherwise fundamentally similar virtual training systems. Once that factor is on the table, it quickly becomes clear that the total cost of ownership, which includes costs to develop, acquire, field, sustain, refresh, etc., via traditional means, cannot approach the very low costs per soldier training hour achievable when those virtual training capabilities are rented, rather than purchased.” O For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

TRAINING & SIMULATION Wegmann USA, Inc., Training & Simulation mailto: simulation@wegmannusa.com Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG, Training & Simulation mailto: info@kmwsim.com

Warfighters are training with the weapons they use to fight.

By Henry Canaday, MT2 Correspondent

Embedded training has a long history. AAI has been producing “Train as you fight” is the mantra of the most effective training embedded training for decades, said Byron Green, vice president for programs. This may be enabled by embedding training tools in the acstrategy and business development at AAI Testing and Training. “It’s tual weapons, gear, systems and platforms warfighters will use in real quite mature and widely distributed.” combat.

The firm provides battleforce tactical trainers (BTT) for the U.S. Embedded training is not new. The Navy has long used it on warNavy. These are ruggedized boxes installed on ships that stimulate ships, as has the Army on tactical vehicles. But defense trainers conradar and navigation systems for virtual training and rehearsals. AAI tinue to press ahead. The digital age multiplies the possibilities and has installed 483 BTTs on 125 Navy combat ships. potential of this technique.

Similar systems are embedded on the Royal Australian Navy’s The First Air Force has embedded training in the air operations FFG-7 guided missile frigates, with one ground-based system for center (AOC) at Tyndall Air Force Base. Boxes that can be switched classroom training. The Australian version trains radar, navigation, from real to virtual mode have been added to the AOC’s room full of electronic-warfare, sonar, weapon-system and communication operacomputers, video machines and communications equipment. tors. “We also do this for ground-based systems like air-defense radar,” The Air Force has a pilot project, run by Air Combat Command, at Green noted.

Nellis Air Force Base to embed virtual and constructive simulation on Uniquely, AAI stimulates the installed systems for F-16 Eagles and F-18 Hornets. Working with the Navy, training. “We create the energy to cause an event to the Air Force uses Link 16 communications to transmit occur in that system—for example, injecting energy virtual entities to aircraft and superimpose, for examinto a radar antenna—just like a real event,” Green exple, surface-to-air missiles on radar-warning receivers. plained. Of three possible approaches to virtual trainThe Air Force Research Laboratory has worked on ing, stimulate, simulate and emulate, “we stimulate live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training. LVC would the hardware.” integrate live people using real equipment with live This stimulation approach means hardware and people using simulated equipment and with construcsoftware can be updated without changing embedded tive elements, computer-generated people or things. training. And the embedded system can be used to test LVC is intended to help train on the F-22 Raptor and and evaluate upgrades prior to live tests. Training and F-35 Lightening II, but might be used to help train on test and evaluation are increasingly merging. non-aviation platforms.

Byron Green Past embedded systems have been separate: one The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems for radar, one for navigation and so forth. The trend Division (NAWTSD) developed the Submarine Skills now is to link them digitally with open architecture Training Network (SubSkillsNet), said Rosemary Garand virtual machines. “Instead of little embedded ris, submarine research applications team lab lead. boxes, all analog, now it’s digitally integrated,” Green The SubSkillsNet grew out of stand-alone capabilities, said. including offline scenario authoring, real-time exerEmbedded tools have not been as common on aircise control applications, student debrief capabilities, craft as on ships. They tend to be used for the most game-based simulation and individual workstation complex, high-value land platforms, like air defense. simulations. It is now a family of simulations for raSaab has delivered embedded gunnery and tactical dar, sonar, periscope and bridge views that can be used training simulators for armored vehicles for 30 years, embedded onboard, in classrooms or in training labs.

Bob Clydesdale said Bob Clydesdale, business development manager NAWCTSD is working on embedded training for the Switchblade unmanned aerial system, a UAS to be bob.clydesdale@saabtraining.com of Saab Training USA. The first laser-based precision simulators were fielded with the U.S. Army in 1986 on launched from submarines. And it works on adaptive the M1 Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicle. training—for example, periscope operator adaptive training, embedIn 1995, the U.S. Army Project Manager Training Devices and ded training that alters lessons based on weaknesses of students. vehicle manufacturers permanently embedded a training device inNAWCTSD has begun work with other Navy units on embedded terface port to provide a single simulator interface outside the turret. training for the common control system on unmanned aircraft sysThat made simulation much easier and extended it to the M1128 motems. The unit has so much experience, tools and codes that it can bile gun system used by Stryker brigades. work across many different kinds of platforms, both Navy and otherThe Saab system combines real vehicles moving across real terwise. rain with real targets with simulation of the sights and sounds of firEmbedded training enables units to take training with them, so ing. For example, crews hear reloading, hit the button to fire, then see they can do just-in-time training, Garris noted. But it can be very exsmoke and an image of a missile moving downrange superimposed on pensive and may be risky without thorough precautions. “Integrating their sights, then a virtual flash on the target if the system records a simulation into actual tactical systems safely and effectively takes a hit. If their own vehicle is hit, the crew hears simulated impact sounds lot more time and testing and costs more.” She said a lot of training and might lose communications or be told the vehicle is disabled. should be done before embedded systems are used.

8 | MT2 18.8

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Saab’s training device uses the vehicle’s own sensors and fire-control system to replicate gun loading, range finding, target designation, weapon or missile firing, and target impact. Simulated sounds, images, control symbols and weapon functions are replicated using embedded data and software protocols.

These systems are still used today but are gradually being replaced by a new generation, as the combat vehicle tactical engagement simulation system (CVTESS) program fields several thousand systems.

CVTESS will work essentially the same way, but be lighter, easier to mount and use the vehicles’ new data busses.

Clydesdale emphasized that the Saab system, while not completely virtual, has been a highly successful embedded training system for many years.

The possibilities of embedded simulations are expanding. Presagis is a division of CAE Electronics, which provides aircraft simulators for both military and commercial pilots. Presagis itself makes two families of products, according to Vice President of Product Management and Marketing Stéphane Blondin. First, the company designs cockpit display systems and generates the software code that runs avionics computers.

Second is Presagis’s suite of four modeling and simulation (M&S) products. First, Terra Vista provides terrain modeling, imports images, stores vectors and builds 3-D maps. It also classifies and tags materials such as asphalt, bricks and trees. Terra Vista works at any scale from local maps Stéphane Blondin to the globe. stephane.blondin@presagis.com Second is Creator, which populates Terra Vista’s terrain with roads, bridges, houses, vehicles and other objects. Third is Presagis’s simulation engines Stage, and fourth is a visualization image-generator, Vega Prime, that lets users look at the simulated situation either with human eyes or in an infrared view.

Blondin said simulation users often spend 60 to 80 percent of their time integrating these four tools for terrain, population, simulation and visualization. Presagis has now thoroughly integrated them end to end. For example, “If you go into a simulated forest, it will know you cannot drive there.”

Presagis simulation tools are used in ground stations and sometimes to give a clear view to pilots in bad weather. They can also be used to train, for example, by superimposing images on a cockpit window. This training mode could help pilots learn to fly in formation with other simulated aircraft or dodge simulated enemy aircraft.

Presagis provides its software to both prime defense contractors and to the government. Simulations can also be used to train tank and ship crews. One Presagis customer uses the software to train soldiers at three tank positions to work together.

Blondin sees increased use of and interest in simulation, either alone or in combination with reality, for training. Using just real assets is expensive and can be dangerous, for example in training F-35 pilots.

Presagis also allows multiple simulated platforms to be linked, so that one trainer can be in command and orchestrate a complex training scenario for several aircraft, ships or tanks.

Presagis has just released a new version, M&S 13, which has improved user interfaces, more tightly integrated modules and a common database, enabling users to pull all necessary data from one www.MT2-kmi.com

database, no matter how much detail the scale of simulation requires.

Zeltech specializes in live training, especially laser-based simulations using multiple integrated laser engagement simulation for communications, explained Steve Preston, vice president of engineering. It has worked on embedded training in several areas, in equipment worn by soldiers, in new tactical vehicles and other instrumentation used in tactical training.

Zeltech has inserted miniaturized training devices in vests that soldiers use for training. These devices increase situational and information awareness and enable better cueing and event adjudication.

The company is also working to embed miniaturized training elements in instrumentation suites, including vehicle-to-passenger instrumentation and IED-interaction suites. These elements include better GPS-denied soldier tracking, video-interactive instrumentation of soldiers and simulated fire-back.

Preston said embedded training seeks to reduce the time needed to prepare for training, make field and remote training more flexible, ensure more realistic training and enable better recording of events.

Zeltech’s work on embedded training is funded by the Army or by Zeltech itself. The firm is helping the Army develop a laboratory for evaluating laser-based training equipment, so that all training devices, embedded or not, work together more effectively. O For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

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Training the warfighter to operate in urban environments.

By Brian O’Shea, MT2 Editor Operating in urban environments presents the warfighter with challenges not found in many other areas. Threats can emerge through close quarter combat or long range engagement. Soldiers need to be prepared for a variety of threats, and the U.S. military is using every avenue available to them to provide the most up-to-date high fidelity training.

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation’s (PEO STRI) goal for military operations on urban terrain (MOUT) is to provide a state-of-the-art instrumentation system that provides instant feedback (audio and video) with realistic training scenarios to assist leaders in honing their soldiers’ urban operations tactics, techniques, and procedures, said Marlon McBride, assistant product manager, Digitized Training.

PEO STRI currently fields four integrated-MOUT training systems (I-MTS): the combined arms collective training facility (CACTF), the collective training facility (CTF), shoot house (SH), and the urban assault course (UAC). To date, the program has fielded 40 UACs, 41 SHs, and 29 CACTFs and CTFs. The CACTF is a complex of buildings covering an urbanized area that varies from site to site. This facility is designed to conduct multiechelon, full spectrum operations training up to battalion task force level. The CACTF will accommodate force on force and force on target (FOT). The CTF is a smaller CACTF, with only 12 to 16 buildings, but contains the same capabilities. These facilities have network-based architecture, utilize government live training transformation software products, provide video and audio recordings of training buildings, and are capable of recording in daylight or darkness.

The SH provides a FOT facility to train and evaluate the unit during a live fire exercise. Units are trained to move tactically, engage targets, conduct breaches and practice target discrimination. The range operating center system is fully capable of providing immediate performance feedback to training participants. The targetry used are life-like precision targets that have reconfigurable plug and play capability. The current configuration of this facility is the automated SH, which enables the training unit to operate the system, conduct their own after action review (AAR) and create their own take-home package without the need for a dedicated operator to develop the training brief.

The UAC contains five stations and is used to train individual soldiers, squads and platoons on tasks necessary to operate within a builtup urban area. Station one is an individual and team trainer; station two is a squad and platoon trainer; station three is grenadier gunnery trainer; station four is an urban offense/defense building; and station five is an underground trainer.

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“The I-MTS training systems enable soldiers to train mission critical tasks in a controlled environment,” said McBride. “These systems allow the soldier to be exposed to war-like scenarios and refine their respective skills without the consequences of failure, which may occur if faced for the first time during an actual altercation. The benefits are gained during the actual execution of the mission.”

One of the challenges the Army faces is to stay current with changing threats and tactics. These drive changes in both training systems and training methodology.

Additionally, no simulator provides the “fog of war” aspect, meaning the full assault of all the senses, the sights and smells, the heat or cold of the day, the weight of the combat load, and the feel of engaging targets using the soldier’s assigned weapon firing live (or training) ammunition.

Another challenge still faced is the incorporation of today’s technology to provide enhanced realism in simulating those changing threats. A lot of research and development efforts in the live training arena develop capabilities such as artificial intelligence, psychological and behavioral studies, virtual avatars, etc. However, the integration of those technologies in an existing urban training system will remain a difficult task.

“I believe there will be changes from threats, tactics and system capabilities,” said McBride. “For example, I envision a blended system with targets/avatars that would include voice recognition that is able to communicate in various languages and interact with the troops in training.

In addition, artificial intelligence can play a significant role, as fielded devices can respond to specific events versus having to be controlled/ activated by an operator, which can result in delayed responses.”

PEO STRI is looking to industry to carefully design and strategically choose suitable architectures that are scalable and backward compatible to interface with legacy equipment, components, realistic target signatures and reactions in devices that are fully compliant with the Future Army Systems of Integrated Targets and standards.

In addition, hardware should be off-the-shelf, and software interfaces based on non-proprietary approaches. The U.S. government would like to know that the systems proposed have the lowest life cycle costs and contractors have a proactive obsolescence plan to sustain equipment in the field.

Industry is doing what it can to provide high fidelity simulations and systems to deliver what the military requires. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) offers a full line of urban operations training solutions for the U.S. Army and other Department of Defense, federal, state, local and commercial training facilities, such as urban assault courses, automated SHs, CACTFs, and mobile MOUT (instrumented www.MT2-kmi.com

CACTFs using configurable shipping containers). GDIT also provides a portable instrumentation system known as InForce, which can be set up in any field location or customer facility in one hour for immediate training applications at multiple, regional locations, said Jim Colston, section vice president, Urban Operations, GDIT. At the heart of GDIT’s urban training instrumentation suite is their control software, Command and Control Integrated Technology (C2IT).

Through C2IT, operators have control over a wide area of network-based instrumentation devices such as cameras, speakers, pop-up targets and special effects. These devices are installed throughout mock enclaves or villages with all video and audio monitored and recorded. The video and data are stored with significant events time-tagged during the exercise and available for recall at the end of the exercise for immediate AAR to trainees and their supervisors.

“GDIT’s urban operations training systems are operational and in use at over 150 U.S. Army training sites worldwide,” said Colston. “Our systems are continually updated and improved through technology refresh efforts. Our C2IT software operates on an open architecture application, which allows for unlimited integration capability with other systems to meet the ever changing requirements of urban training.”

The U.S. Army uses GDIT’s systems at all of their homestation and combat training center locations. Their systems are also in use at locations supporting the U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, police and first responders, universities, the Department of Justice, and some international coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Allied Container Systems (ACS) is another provider of urban training solutions used by the U.S. military for urban training. Some examples include reconfigurable container based structures built to customer specifications, multi-purpose training towers, SHs and sniper towers, burn towers, blast resistant buildings, AAR structures, rapidly deployable and re-configurable habitable structures, culturally accurate role-players, special effects, training support, site maintenance services and exercise planning and exercise control support (EXCON), said Chris Bradley, managing director, government and military programs, ACS. “ACS training sites are designed in conjunction with the customer,” said Bradley. “ASCi, an interactive design tool that was developed by ACS, allows our design team to work with the customer in real time in order to produce a three-dimensional image of the proposed training site, which takes any guess work and interpretation out of the equation.”

Once the training site is active, ACS can provide pre-exercise planning, AAR and EXCON support, deploy culturally accurate, security screened role players, set dressing, special effects and atmospheric services that turn a training site into a living facsimile of future deployment areas. ACS also provides ongoing training support services from site set-up, life sustainment, maintenance and tear down.

ASC’s current customers include the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and other government departments and nongovernmental aid organizations, as well as foreign militaries. They are one of the only suppliers in the United States and Canada that provides one-stop life cycle services.

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MT2 18.8 | 11

The virtual MOUT site area contains over 20 geospecific photoMetaVR is another leader in training solutions. They have built a textured structures and over 3,000 trees, power lines and poles. The geospecific 3-D database of the Aberdeen Test Center (ATC). The 60 kilomodels were built with industry standard 3-D modeling tools such as meter by 60 kilometer virtual terrain includes a high-resolution photoAutodesk Maya and 3D Studio Max, and then converted to MetaVR’s specific inset of ATC’s MOUT site at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. model format. Models from MetaVR’s 3-D model liBecause this virtual ATC terrain matches the actubraries are also used on the terrain. al facility to a significant degree of accuracy, the simuAll MOUT site-specific models were created with lated MOUT site can be used for activities such as protextures derived from high-resolution photographs totyping the interaction of small unmanned ground taken at the actual site, at ground level, with a highvehicles with infantry in a simulated urban setting. resolution digital camera. All high-resolution MOUT The U.S. Army ATC MOUT site is a compound of building models contain modeled interiors and arfixed and reconfigurable structures within a road netticulated doors and windows. The database makes exwork. The varied terrain and movable structures entensive use of other elements such as street lights, oil able the testing of diverse mission capabilities. drums, power cables and fences.

The 360-square-kilometer 3-D terrain, built with MetaVR Terrain Tools for Esri ArcGIS, is constructed from 8 meter per post elevation data and 15 cm per Future of Urban Training Chris Bradley pixel imagery over the entire ATC facility (32 meters per post elevation and 1 meter per pixel imagery else- chris.bradley@alliedcontainer.com As technology advances, Colston said, these syswhere). The imagery of the MOUT site has been entems will greatly evolve over the next decade to allow hanced with high-resolution ground detail textures. for a higher fidelity urban training environment.

The terrain geometry created by MetaVR Terrain Tools includes “For example, multiple training facilities will be linked into a single a high-resolution representation of the Mulberry Point coastline. At network to expand training capabilities,” said Colston. “This is already runtime, MetaVR’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) generates part of an ongoing U.S. Army program called the Integrated Training multi-textured, animated, normal-mapped water surfaces in the cutEnvironment. CACTF facilities will be tied into mission command out regions identified as water. The terrain seamlessly transitions to the training centers with armor training ranges having aerial downlinks simulated water generated by VRSG. from aircraft, drones, etc. The tracking of soldiers and other entities will become easy, as will the identification of hidden enemy locations.

We believe that although the future will see an increase of aerial drone usage and a decline of the urban battlefield intensity we have seen for the past decade, there will always be a need for ‘boots on the ground’ based on the environment and mission.”

GDIT has developed several new products aimed to enhance urban operations training in 2014 and beyond, including the design of a new wireless hit sensor for their human urban target. This new sensor will reduce maintenance costs and training downtime by eliminating the wiring that is sometimes damaged during live-fire training. This same wireless sensing technology can also be used on any training device to feed data back to a central control system. The company is also developing new advancements in handheld control of instrumentation devices and a new and improved infrared illuminator that is used for total darkness video recording.

ACS is focusing on integration of MOUT systems as the next step for future capabilities.

“We at ACS believe that the next step is further integration of MOUT systems with instrumentation to better digitize the training site in order to maximize the learning in training,” said Bradley. “By combining our proven role-player training support services with cutting-edge digital training capture, our training audiences will have the opportunity to maximize the learning that can be achieved in tactical training scenarios.”

ACS’s product development in 2014 will focus on rapidly deployable, reconfigurable habitable shelters that are suitable to all climates from warm arid to wet winter, which will allow training formations to set up working forward operations bases (FOB) close to training venues, with actual rapid deployable FOB accommodations in the field. O For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

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PROUD TO DELIVER NEXT GENERATION SKILLS TOMORROW’S HIGH-TECH AND RAPIDLY changing battlefield will demand more of its armored combat vehicle crews. Saab is now fielding a new generation laser-based simulator system for the U.S. Army called CVTESS (Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System). The CVTESS will train crews for the Abrams Main Battle Tank and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle for the next twenty years. At the same time we are also instrumenting the U.S. Army’s MILES system with Saab’s Interim Range System – a communication solution able to link together over a thousand laserbased simulators for dismounted soldiers or vehicles.

Saab’s simulator solutions are based on 35 years of worldwide experience with 170 different vehicle applications including over 60 different Main Battle Tank and Infantry Fighting Vehicle configurations. With more than

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When upgrading simulators is more cost effective than buying new systems.

Simulators are being used to train warfighters in one form or another throughout all branches of the U.S. military. As technology advances, training units are often hard pressed to keep their simulators equipped with the most up-to-date software. Each time a new innovation is released, it’s often not practical to dive into the marketplace and purchase new ones—hence, simulator upgrades, which means equipping simulators currently in use with the latest technology without having to shop for a new one and avoiding a hefty price tag. In the case of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), all simulators are somehow in the process of being upgraded, said Captain Ashley Walker, public affairs officer, AETC, U.S. Air Force.

“In some way, shape, or form all training simulators can be considered in a phase of upgrade,” said Walker. “This can be in programming, system concurrence, or replacement of a broken/obsolete technology. These efforts are long coordinated events. Formal training unit (FTU) devices are upgraded when aircraft modifications take place based on major command driven aircraft modifications through combatant requirements—i.e., operational flight program, updated hardware, etc.”

The process and timing of upgrading simulators depends on combatant requirements, urgency of need and funding. This is coordinated through the system contractor, the command using the system and the program managing office. Ideally, AETC plans on upgrades within the first year or two of the upgrading contract.

Interference with training schedules is dependent upon the scope of the modification/upgrade to the FTU devices.

“Every effort is made to mitigate negative training impacts,” said Walker. “Significant and time-consuming upgrades may take a device down for a number of training days. Training schedules are looked at and the student throughput on the remaining devices is addressed. If delays in training are anticipated, throughput may be decreased until the pipeline can handle the normal number of students again.”

However, upgrading a simulator is not always the cost-effective option, depending on the simulator.

“Like the aircraft, a major simulator represents a capital investment, and oftentimes it is

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By Brian O’Shea, MT2 Editor

more cost effective to continually modify and update the system than it would be to acquire a new one,” said Walker. “Conversely, updates for simpler, less expensive simulators like desktop simulators or parttask simulators may be more economical if the equipment is replaced in its entirety. The factors to be considered would be technological obsolescence, software maintainability, commercial parts availability, and the cost of continuing support.”

AETC uses a large number of training devices, particularly in technical and flying training. Two primary reasons they employ simulators are: resource limitations, where the real equipment may be in short supply or too expensive to operate for the required training task (aircraft or missiles are good examples of this); and when safety, operational limitations or security considerations may make training operation of actual equipment impractical. Potentially dangerous training tasks, such as aircraft emergency procedures training, could be much better performed in a simulator without risks to crewmember or the aircraft, especially in trainees’ hands.

“We in AETC constantly strive to identify the right mix of live, virtual and constructive education and training,” said Walker. “The mix should optimize content delivery and leverage the use of new technologies to supplement and, where appropriate, replace ‘handson’ training.”

The U.S. Navy approaches simulator upgrades similar to the Air Force. As upgrades or modifications are made to an aircraft or subsystem, the simulators also must be modified to remain concurrent, said Captain Craig Dorrans, the program manager for Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges. Other updates occur to mitigate obsolescence issues and do not occur at set intervals. When simulators require upgrades, those contracted to do so depend on the platform.

For example, the H-60 simulators utilize a number of defense contractors to include CAE USA, Binghamton Simulator Corp., JF Taylor, Rockwell Collins and Indra Systems.

Simulator upgrades at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) are approached like any other acquisition.

“First, requirements must be defined using a capability assessment to determine what will satisfy user needs with measurable improvements to mission capability and operational support,” said Dorrans. “From there, an acquisition strategy is developed, schedule and cost program goals are determined, resources are allocated, the contract is awarded and an upgrade is executed.”

The Naval Aviation Training Systems Office (PMA 205) is consistently upgrading and enhancing simulators to maintain concurrency with the aircraft. Software and hardware modifications are necessary to ensure that aircrews and maintainers are training on the most accurate system. Steps are taken to ensure training schedules are not hampered by necessary upgrades.

“When simulator upgrades occur, PMA 205 strives to ensure there is no interruption in training for the fleet,” said Dorrans. “Minor upgrades can be done at the end of the day. However, some www.MT2-kmi.com

proposal is accepted and put on contract, development to fielding upgrades require longer timelines. When that happens, one device usually takes approximately two years.” will be taken offline while another device doubles-up to ensure necesTCM Virtual performs the majority of AVCATT suites upgrades dursary training continues through the upgrade period.” ing periods of no scheduled training.

PMA 205 is consistently pursuing ways to keep simulator “In general, keeping simulators upgraded is much more cost training up to date with the latest hardware/software to give effective than buying a new one,” said Finch. “Of course, seaman and Marines the most high fidelity simulated simulators will become technologically obsolete over training possible. In 2012, PMA 205 initiated the time and will reach a point when upgrading is no longer implementation of the Navy Aviation Simulation an option.”

Master Plan to increase training and readiness through The first AVCATT was fielded in 2003 and, assumthe use of simulators across F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, MHing it will continue to be upgraded, is expected to be in 60R and MH-60S platforms. Additionally, PMA 205 service through at least 2025, he added. worked closely with Headquarters Marine Corps on Most of the upgrades the U.S. military needs are the continued execution of existing acquisition plans performed by the original developers of the fielded and the implementation of Marine Corps Aviation system. Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is Simulator Master Plan (MCASMP). Combined, the the developer of the Virtual Battlespace (VBS) series existing and additional funding for MCASMP will of tactical training and mission rehearsal tools. VBS is provide enhanced training capability and increased Peter Morrison a software suite that runs on both desktop computers operational readiness for all Marine Corps aviation pete@bisimulations.com and more complex simulation systems, such as the U.S. platforms.

Army close combat tactical trainer (CCTT), said Peter The Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRAMorrison, co-CEO, Bohemia Interactive Simulations. VBS is updated DOC) Capability Manager for the Virtual Training Environment (TCM about twice yearly, with the newest version, VBS3, to be fielded by the Virtual) is the Army’s centralized planner, manager and integrator for U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in early 2014. all capability developments associated with virtual simulators, simuVBS is a software suite that is quickly upgraded by uninstalling lations and other components of the virtual training environment. the old version and installing the new version. If, however, plug-ins or TCM Virtual manages requirements for the combined arms tactiadd-ons are required, then the upgrade process can be more complex, cal trainer family of trainers, which includes the aviation combined because they need to be ported from one version to the next. However, arms tactical trainer (AVCATT). Currently, AVCATT is in the process VBS is generally backwards compatible, so existing plug-ins and addof upgrading cockpit configurations for the UH-60M, CH-47F and ons typically work with no or few modifications.

AH-64D, which will make the simulator concurrent with fielded airBISim is not a system integrator, and does not deliver entirely new craft. Development has also begun on new cockpit configurations for simulation systems. BISim works with system integrators to ensure the AH-64E and UH-72A aircraft platforms.

VBS provides a robust virtual environment for simulation systems.

“As changes are made to fielded aircraft fleets, corresponding Customers upgrade to the latest VBS version to access new capabiliupgrades are required in the supporting training aids, devices, ties—for example, support larger terrain areas, an optimized network simulations and simulators,” said Dan Finch, an aviation military protocol or improved graphics. analyst at TRADOC Capability Manager Virtual. “Required changes/ The Boeing Company supports a wide variety of U.S. Air Force, U.S. upgrades are identified and simulator program managers submit Navy, U.S. Army, and international customer programs with combat a request for proposal to simulation contracting vendors. Once a

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MT2 18.8 | 15

The decision to upgrade or acquire a new simulator is subject to a aircrew simulation for F-16, F-15C, F-15E, F-22, AH-64, F-18 and B-52 cost-benefit analysis that takes into account many factors, including aircraft platforms. They also support T-45 and T-38 advanced school life cycle costs, acquisition costs, planned operational life of the fleet, house aircrew training simulators as well as provide maintenance and a variety of other considerations, added Baigrie. trainers for CH-147, F-18 and Apache, said Sunil Velagapudi, director, “A full-mission simulator can easily be in service for 25 years or Capabilities Center for Training Systems and Government Services, more,” he said. “A good example is the CAE-built E-3A Airborne WarnThe Boeing Company. ing and Control System (AWACS) simulator used by NATO. The NATO Generally, Boeing customers receive annual upgrades to all of their E-3A flight deck simulator built by CAE has been in opproduct lines, but in urgent situations they can impleeration for more than 30 years and has provided more ment an upgrade in as little as two to three months than 100,000 hours of training to NATO E-3A AWACS (including time to buy parts, retrofit, test and delivaircrews. This simulator has received numerous uper). An upgrade could be prompted by any number of grades and regular maintenance over the years to help things, including if components of the simulation beit achieve this long service.” come obsolete and unsupportable by industry replace/ L-3 Link Simulation and Training routinely uprepair, aircraft capabilities evolve and the simulator is grades fielded flight training systems for aircraft conrequired to stay concurrent with the aircraft’s capabilicurrency modifications, obsolescence and insertion ties, or simulation requirements increase to support, of new training technologies. They currently perform for example, enhanced capability surrounding network these types of upgrades on several multi-service trainoperations, said Velagapudi.

Sunil Velagapudi ing programs, such as the C-17 training system, F-16 Boeing’s constant resolution visual system was mission training center, E-6 aircrew training system, designed with upgrades in mind. They knew the comE-3 contractor training and simulation services, B-2 mercial off-the-shelf technology was subject to obsotraining system, F/A-18 C/D/E/F/G trainers, predator lescence, so they designed the system around the high mission aircrew training system, T-1A ground based definition format and not around a specific projector. training system, and Army’s Flight School XXI and the Since the system is designed around the high definition AVCATT helicopter training centers, said Frank Delisle, format, future upgrades in the commercial projector vice president of engineering and technology, L-3 Link technology can be added as a drop-in replacement withSimulation and Training (Link). out the requirement to replace the entire visual system.

Link’s process of upgrading systems consists of “Upgrades driven by obsolescence are due to the inworking closely with all customer stakeholders, inability to either continue to repair parts or buy replacecluding the using and acquisition commands, to enment parts,” said Velagapudi. “Since most simulators Steve Baigrie sure the requirements are clearly understood. They today use commercial off-the-shelf mass market hardware (Intel-based PCs and consumer video technology), steve.baigrie@caemilusa.com then mutually develop an execution plan that meets the technical, cost and schedule needs. we are seeing the need to upgrade in less than 10 years “Link applies its extensive upgrade experience of life.” and technologies to provide an optimal implementaCAE has designed and manufactured more than tion approach that meets all the requirements while 275 full-mission simulators for militaries around the minimizing training downtime,” said Delisle. “This apglobe. The majority of these full-mission simulators are proach allows for upgrades to be done typically in less still in service and many are updated regularly. In adthan a year.” dition, CAE is involved in numerous programs where He added that simulator upgrades stem from the they upgrade simulators manufactured by other comneed to keep the fielded trainers concurrent with the panies. Some of the major simulator upgrade programs operational platform’s ongoing upgrades. In addition, CAE is currently performing include U.S. Air Force C-5 as part of Link’s proactive life cycle management, a weapon systems trainers and U.S. Air Force KC-135 opFrank Delisle regular technology refresh program is provided in coerational flight trainers. frank.delisle@l-3com.com ordination with the customer to continuously improve In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, Army and the system’s training capabilities.

Marine Corps all use simulators designed and manuWhile experts agree that simulator upgrades can be the most costfactured by CAE. Some examples include the C-130J weapon systems effective way to maintain the life and maximize training capabilities, a trainers for the Air Force; the UH-72A Lakota cockpit procedures trainprolonged lack of upgrades to a training device may lead to purchasers as well as the MH-60 and MH-47 combat mission simulators for the ing a new device all together.

Army; MH-60R and MH-60S tactical operational flight trainers as well “Simulators can be used for 15, 20 or more years as long as there as the P-8A operational flight trainers for the Navy; and the KC-130J is a proactive approach to dealing with concurrency, obsolescence and weapon systems trainers for the Marine Corps. planned technology insertion,” said Delisle. “These measures will re“There is no hard and fast rule for the timeline to upgrade a simulafresh a simulator and help extend the useful life of the trainer.” O tor,” said Steve Baigrie, vice president, operations, CAE USA. “The time will depend on the scope of the upgrade and what is being upgraded on the simulator. Most important for a simulator upgrade, though, is working closely with the military customer to develop a plan and timeFor more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives line that minimizes simulator downtime so that training is impacted for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com. as little as possible.”

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DATA PACKETS New Enterprise Content Development Capability Appliedinfo Partners Inc. announced earlier this year that the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capability Manager (TCM) for The Army Distributed Learning Program (TADLP) recently established an enterprise license agreement with Appliedinfo Partners Inc., best known to training developers as D2 Team-Sim. This partnership provides proponents the capability to design and develop distributed learning (DL) content in a cloud-based authoring environment. Licenses will be distributed to proponent centers and schools without cost.

The TCM TADLP supports the use of in-house training and education developers, but needed an authoring tool and environment to ensure development of content that met Army standards, specifications and playability on Army platforms. The search resulted in open competition of the requirements.

This new capability allows the export of DL content to Army systems, such as the training development capability, the army learning management system, and the Enterprise Life-long Learning Center learning and content management systems. The DL authoring environment provides an intuitive, user-friendly and browser-based solution that enables the cataloging, maintenance and reuse of media assets and available training course materials. It also allows seamless integration of images, video, 2-D and 3-D graphics, html 5 interactions, Ngrain and Unity game-based simulations to create a total training package. For interactive multimedia, this environment will provide a method to integrate previously developed content into 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.

Training and education developers with an intermediate working knowledge of the Microsoft suite of tools will be comfortable working in this environment. For interactive multimedia, this environment will provide a method to integrate previously developed content into new courses.

For more complex content, proponents can still use the TRADOC combined arms products for distributed learning contract vehicle.

The DL content development capability is hosted by the vendor with access to the application via URL. This means the training and education developers will not have to download software or players to access the authoring environment. Once the development is complete, the published files can be downloaded to local drives and later uploaded to repositories such as the central army registry or the training development capability.

John Lau; jlau@appliedinfo.com 18 | MT2 18.8

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Software Reduces Integration Expense Presagis recently released its new modeling and simulation (M&S) software portfolio, M&S Suite 13. The latest version of this end-toend solution includes hundreds of product enhancements designed to expedite application development for training, operations and simulation analysis. Presagis’ new M&S suite saves users time and money by seamlessly uniting 3-D modeling, terrain generation, simulation and visualization software into one integrated package.

Typically 60 to 80 percent of project budgets are spent on integrating disparate home-grown and third-party solutions. With its unique features, M&S Suite 13 enables users to create simulation content and scenarios faster while achieving greater realism and better performance—all within a development environment that is easier to use and more tightly integrated. Its toolset provides an open, scalable, and reusable M&S environment. Additionally, new licensing options offer customers the commercial flexibility they need.

“Our customers are increasingly looking for ways to lower the costs associated with developing their simulation applications and consolidate the number of tools they use in order to focus efforts solely on their core businesses,” said Stéphane Blondin, vice president, product management and marketing at Presagis. “M&S Suite 13 was developed based on input gathered from client surveys, user groups and beta programs, which streamlined development and produced superior simulation-based applications for training, operations and analysis.”

Components of Presagis’ M&S Suite 13 include: • Creator—State-of-the-art 3-D modeling: The modernized user interface with fully customizable desktop expedites 3-D model development by making it faster to build, modify and validate models.

• Terra Vista—Terrain generation simplified: A completely redesigned user interface simplifies the terrain generation process via a logical and step-by-step workflow. Terra Vista 13’s novel approach to database creation enables customers to build terrain databases faster than ever before.

• Stage—Faster scenario generation and more out-of-the-box platforms: Including more than 50 new civilian and military platforms and a new auto-population tool, STAGE provides a complete simulation development environment. STAGE 13 also features a new STAGE Lite version and a range of optional modules to meet a wider range of commercial project requirements.

• Vega Prime—Visualization sharpened: More realism than ever is made possible through enhanced rendering performance, more light points, depth pass and 3-D clouds. In addition, Vega Prime 13 now natively supports the distributed interactive simulation and high-level architecture communication protocols, as well as the CIGI standard as part of the base product.

Stéphane Blondin; stephane.blondin@presagis.com

www.MT2-kmi.com

Military Training Technology

Readiness Trainer Capt. Craig Dorrans Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges

2013

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

Readiness Trainer

Q& A

Responsible for Procurement and Life Cycle Support of All Training Systems Captain Craig Dorrans Program Manager Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges A native of Long Beach, Calif., Captain Craig Dorrans graduated from Duke University in 1990 with Bachelor of Science degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering. Designated a naval flight officer in 1991, he reported directly to Patrol Squadron (VP) 30 to begin flying the P-3C Orion.

Operationally, Dorrans’ tours include two assignments with VP-45, deploying to Iceland, Spain, Italy, Greece and Puerto Rico. Serving as flag secretary with commander, Carrier Group 3, he deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

From May 2007 through November 2009, Dorrans served as the executive officer and commanding officer of Tactical Air Control Squadron (VTC) 22, where he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, Bengal Sea and Indian Ocean aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

During his tours ashore, Dorrans served as a fleet replacement squadron instructor at VP-30; an assignments officer at Navy Personnel Command; and as the P-8A training systems assistant program manager with the Naval Air Systems Command Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office (PMA-205).

Most recently, Dorrans served as the integrated product team lead and fleet integration lead for the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System program as part of the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-262).

Dorrans holds a Master of Science degree in business from National University. His personal awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, four Navy Achievement Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal and various unit and sea service awards.

Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of the Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office [PMA 205]?

Q: What are the top three challenges the Naval Aviation Training Systems program office will face in 2014?

A: Obviously, it’s going to be very budget-driven in 2014—that’s the theme. Maintaining the acquisition workforce here, keeping all the programs whole, and also not reducing any support to the warfighter, especially as we go through 2014. Those are the top three challenges we see.

Q: How do you plan on mitigating those challenges?

A: At PMA 205, we provide quality training systems to the fleet, which enable their readiness. We’re responsible for not only the procurement, but also the life cycle support of all training systems, to encompass things like courseware. We’ve got over 27 different weapons programs for which we provide training and what equates to more than 800 different training devices. When I say training devices, it’s a full flight simulator, a part task simulator, a maintenance trainer and the associated courseware that would support all those trainers. Also PMA-205 is in charge of training ranges, which includes range equipment and all the tools that network and connect all the training systems. We’re deployed to over 60 locations both in the U.S. and external. www.MT2-kmi.com

A: At this point, looking at our budget, we don’t have any plans to cancel any programs. We’re not going to have to shut down existing simulators, so our support to warfighters will be ongoing. We’re looking at some acquisitions, we probably won’t start doing acquisitions in 2014 if they haven’t already commenced and have a budget and a schedule associated with them. The biggest challenge I see here across PMA 205 is keeping the acquisition workforce intact. At this point, we really haven’t had too many leave the program office, and I really credit that to my predecessor [Captain John Feeney], who put together a pretty strong, highly functioning workforce here. It’s my job to keep it going.

MT2 18.8 | 21

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

Q: What new programs or initiatives will you implement in 2014?

A: As I mentioned, I don’t see a lot new in 2014 happening with the budget. However, there will be some efforts we’ve started that really haven’t been announced; we really haven’t brought them out yet. Let me give you a few examples: the Tactical Combat Training System [TCTS] increment 2. We have two primary training ranges, one in Naval Air Station Fallon and Naval Air Station Key West; those are the training ranges.

The TCTS increment 1 program is fielded there currently. TCTS increment 2 is going to add encryption to those pods. So right now, they just operate unencrypted. What I envision is we will be releasing a request for proposal to industry in 2014 and that should result in a contract award sometime in 2015. Another example of contract action is that we anticipate ordering a maintenance training contract on the P-8 contract and then later on in fiscal 2014, we’ll also award a contract for deployable mission readiness trainers. We have an initiative of our Naval Aviation Simulator Master Plan [NASMP]. Right now, our NASMP program effort runs through about 2020 and the goal is to improve the fidelity and connectivity of all of our simulators. That’s going to ultimately allow us to take the training and readiness we do in the aircraft right now and move some of it to simulators.

As you can expect, flight hours are expensive and the more we can do in simulators is going to be more affordable for the Navy. So we’re looking at kicking off a new phase of the NASMP program, which will increase connectivity, increase security across the training devices and will also have digital fidelity increases. Fidelity and concurrence are the big challenges for trainers to make them as realistic as possible. Those are the enablers that allow us to move flight hours from airplanes to simulators.

Q: How important is the relationship with industry to the Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office?

A: Certainly, our relationship with industry is incredibly important.

I’ve only been here a couple of months and being new is neat because most of the vendors have come in to see me and I get a chance to meet with them face to face and talk to them about how we’re going to work together. I think we all have a shared vision for the success of Naval Aviation Training. We’re both responsible for executing on-budget and on-schedule to deliver training devices to the fleet. I think we have a highly positive relationship with industry and I think it’s going to get better as we keep going forward.

Q: What are the primary goals of the Naval Aviation Survival Training Program [NASTP]?

A: Every year, we take about 20,000 sailors, Marines, Coast Guard, civilians and even foreign nationals, and we put them through our water survival training. The NASTP is initial refresher aviation survival training. PMA-205 supports 150 different training devices across eight different locations; we call them aviation survival training centers, which support all Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. That training encompasses all the aeromedical aspects of flight, including water survival, proper use of survival gear, meaning aviation life support systems, and then anything else under Naval Air Training Operating Procedures Standardization [NATOPS]. Survival training is dictated by NATOPS and the 22 | MT2 18.8

Naval Aviation Survival Training program ensures pilots, Naval flight officers [NFOs] and aircrew get the training they need to operate safely.

Q: How are projected budget cuts affecting the way Naval Aviation Training Systems conducts its training across the board?

A: The existing budgetary environment is challenging for us, and in all aspects of naval aviation. I spoke about the NASMP program, and that’s one of our key enablers. We started upgrading our H-60 and F/A-18 trainers adding fidelity, which is going to allow us to take flight hours from the aircraft and move them into the simulator. Other platforms are doing it as they modernize. An example is going from P-3 to P-8.

The P-3 simulators weren’t highly networked and did not have good fidelity. As we’re bringing on the P-8 trainers, we’re getting additional fidelity and planning to conduct up to 70 percent of their training and readiness in a simulated environment, which is obviously much less expensive. E-2D, another new platform, is similar. Moving flight hours from airplanes to the simulators under the NASMP plan is a great cost saver for naval aviation.

Q: With conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq winding down, how does that put more emphasis on home-station training?

A: The driving force for advancement over the last decade to provide training and readiness in simulators is really going to drive the next decade. The ability to provide training at a lower cost in a multi-level security environment and in a networked environment is key, and that’s where we’re going in the next step of the NASMP plan. We plan to keep improving the entire training continuum at the individual skill level, the unit level, even at the fleet level, while lowering operational costs at the same time.

Q: How does Naval Aviation Training Systems prepare for conflicts in environments that have yet to be determined?

A: Within our training systems, we’ve got a number of low- and highfidelity devices on which all of our aircrew train, and we also have training ranges. Training scenarios are generally developed by the fleet instructors, and PMA 205 provides tools that enable those fleet instructors to develop those simulations.

Let me give you a couple of different examples. There’s something we have embedded into our simulators called the next generation threat system [NGTS]. It’s a warfare environment generator that’s fairly autonomous. It provides computer-generated forces of land, air, hostile, friendly, surface, subsurface, and all the associated weapons and weapon systems—literally hundreds of entities that you would need a fleet of instructors to sit behind consoles and move around if we didn’t have this automated tool set.

The fleet then designs a scenario and utilizes NGTS to move all of these realistic targets around, so you have a very realistic environment to train in. Another great example is the Marine Corps advanced distributed virtual training environment. This has a state-of-the-art networking capability across Marine Corps trainers. It links simulators in Marine Corps Air Stations at New River, Cherry Point, Miramar and Camp Pendleton. Back in the old days when I was using simulators in the mid-’90s, we would bring in instructors to sit at consoles to act as a “white cell,” or a friendly aircraft or friendly ship. As you can imagine, www.MT2-kmi.com

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

not being a helicopter pilot or a ship driver, my ability to simulate the voices, the radio calls those individuals would make is somewhat limited. If I can link a ship to a helicopter and have a ship driver talk to a pilot, it’s very realistic, and that’s what the advanced distributed virtual training environment is enabling.

Q: Can you describe the how Naval Aviation Training Systems uses simulators to train pilots in the F/A-18/EA-18G? A: We’ve got a number of simulators across the Hornet and Growler platforms. The top of the line is our Tactical Operational Flight Trainer, and that’s really providing the training across the spectrum for pilots. It lets them do normal emergency procedures, lets them do their different systems operations, including radar and weapon systems. In addition to the pilot training devices, they also have the whole spectrum of maintenance training devices. We delivered to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training [CNATT]. It trains all the maintainers at different locations. They’re big school houses and they have the maintenance training devices in there to teach the maintainers how to maintain the aircraft.

Q: What are the primary benefits of using simulation to train pilots?

A: There are some things you just can’t simulate or you just can’t do in the aircraft. Weapons are incredibly expensive. A good example is one of the things you have to do as a P-3 NFO is learn how to track and attack submarine. As you can imagine, there aren’t a number of adversary submarines, or even friendly submarines around that can act as adversaries, to get on a day-to-day basis to train all of the NFOs across the P-3 fleet. So simulators step in and let us train on a dayto-day basis, and also they also allow us to deploy simulated weapons.

Generally, friendly submarines don’t like it too much when you torpedo them, but in the simulator, you can drop torpedoes over and over again on virtual targets until you get it right. In my career, I’ve probably dropped hundreds of [simulated] torpedoes and only three or four in the real world, and those are part of very scripted exercises you do once in a home cycle.

They will fly the aircraft from there. A sixth mission system trainer will be installed at the fleet replacement squadron in Jacksonville, Fla. Its purpose will be to train all of the new aircrew who are coming into the community. I say the “new” aircrew, but Triton is going to be flown by the maritime patrol reconnaissance force, the same pilots, NFOs and aircrew that operate the P-8 and P-3. You’ll do a tour in P-8 or P-3 and then you’ll do another tour in Triton. For maintenance training, the path forward is we’re going to deliver curriculum and also build seven different training devices and put them at the CNATT Naval Base at Ventura County Point Mugu. They’ll get trained up on avionics, power plant, landing gear, flight control, composite repair, etc.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: 2014 is going to be a challenging year for not only training systems, but naval aviation from a budgetary perspective. However, as aircraft technologies continue to mature, simulation technology has to keep pace. I talked about fidelity and concurrence—those are the two enablers that allow us to reduce the strain on the aircraft system and do more of our training in simulators. No matter how budgetary challenging it is in 2014, we do have plans and programs in place that we’re going to keep executing to continue to deliver and upgrade trainers throughout this year. We’re looking forward to developing innovative solutions with our industry partners to deliver and upgrade training systems at an affordable price. O

Top Contracts F/A-18 Tactical Operation Flight Trainers

L-3 Communications Corporation

$33,174,360

MH-60R Tactical Operation Flight Trainers

CAE USA Inc.

$31,373,663

P-8A Training Courseware

The Boeing Company

$26,257,174

Littoral Combat Ship Training Courseware

Cubic Simulation System

$15,150,503

Q: How is Naval Aviation Training Systems working with PMA-262 to train for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system [UAS]?

MH-60S Operational Flight Trainer

CAE USA Inc.

$15,123,802

Foreign Military Sales Taiwanese P-3 Program Training

Logistic Services International

$14,878,269

A: I spent my last three years in PMA-262 as a team lead for the Triton program. PMA-205 works very close with PMA-262, which is the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office. The plan for Triton is to train all of the aircrew skills 100 percent in a virtual environment. The Triton aircraft are operated from what we call a mission control systems [MCS]. Each MCS has two sides to it. There’s a primary side from where the aircrew would fly the unmanned aircraft and there’s a redundant side, just in case the primary side would have an issue and fail. The aircrew would move over to the redundant side and fly the rest of the mission from that side.

The redundant side also has an embedded training capability called a mission system trainer. So Triton can have aircrew flying a UAS and a second aircrew could come in and practice, do mission rehearsal, NATOPS training or emergency procedure training as they need to do. Triton is planning on fielding five MCSs: three at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, two at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Littoral Combat Ship Training Courseware

Cubic Simulation System

$14,841,780

E-2D Simulated Maintenance Trainers

Rockwell Collins Inc.

$12,828,454

P-8A Trainer Modification

The Boeing Company

$12,354,787

Foreign Military Sales Australian MH-60R Avionics Trainer/Weapon Load Trainer

CAE USA Inc.

$12,257,103

T-45 Ramp Operational Flight Trainers

Symvionics Inc.

$10,558,335

F/A-18 Tactical Operation Flight Trainers

L-3 Communications Corporation

$9,811,751

MV-22 Containerized Flight Training Devices

Bell Boeing

$9,363,229

Foreign Military Sales Australia F/A-18 Tactical Operation Flight Trainers

The Boeing Company

$8,046,757

Chief Naval Air Training Contract Instruction Services

Cubic Worldwide Technical Services Inc.

$7,804,840

24 | MT2 18.8

www.MT2-kmi.com

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

2013

NAVAIR SYSCOM

Vice Adm. David Dunaway Commander

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division

Garry Newton Deputy Commander

Capt. Brian Corey Vice Commander

Program Executive Officers

Capt. Steven D. Nakagawa Commanding Officer NAWCTSD and NSA, Orlando

Capt. Frank W. Naylor, III Executive Officer NAWCTSD and NSA, Orlando

Rear Adm. CJ Jaynes Air ASW, Assault & Special Mission Programs

Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis Tactical Aircraft Programs

John Meyers Technical Director NAWCTSD and Director Naval Air Systems Command Human Systems Department

Robert M. Matthews Deputy Technical Director NAVAIR 1.0 Program Management Site Lead NAWCTSD

Rear Adm. Mathias W. Winter Unmanned Aviation & Strike Weapons

Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan F-35 Lightning II Program

Cmd. Master Chief Bret A. Joel

Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges

Capt. Craig Dorrans Program Manager Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges

DATA PACKETS

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

New Visualization Series Projector JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., recently announced the DLA-VS2200ZG D-ILA projector. Engineered specifically for simulation environments, planetariums and other visualization applications, the latest visualization series model offers 1920x1080 native resolution, and its nextgeneration optical engine delivers a minimum 18,000:1 native contrast ratio.

Built around an optical engine with three D-ILA imaging devices, the DLA-VS2200ZG offers a seven-axis adjustable color management system (CMS), 12-bit gamma correction with six user adjustable gamma presets,

16-step lens aperture control, and 10-bit color depth via its two HDMI 1.4a inputs. Its anti-smear reduction modes reduce image smearing during fast-motion scenes through black frame insertion.

New 1/16 sub-pixel convergence correction delivers more precise picture alignment. Plus, with its 230-watt NSH illumination system, the DLA-VS2200ZG delivers 850 lumens for accurate daytime and nighttime flight training, and 4,000 hours in normal lamp mode, which contribute to a lower cost of ownership.

“Long lamp life is an important consideration for the simulation marketplace, because it can help manage operational costs,” explained Gary Klasmeier, product engineering manager, D-ILA Systems, JVC Professional Products Company. “The DLA-VS2200ZG delivers brightness that exceeds FAA regulations and delivers 4,000

3-D Virtual Maintenance Trainer on App Store Gets a Boost Disti’s interactive 3-D virtual maintenance trainer, Virtual Engine Shop 2.0, for iPad users has new features including rendering optimizations to improve battery life, all new user interface system for accessing and selecting content, and all new garage environment to immerse the user. There is also an all new in-lesson status bar shows that shows lesson steps, navigation presets and lesson instructions.

There are two lesson modes. The first is a watch and learn mode with DVR style controls and the second is a fully interactive mode in which the user repeats what they learned in the watch and learn mode. New content includes the Allison 4500 SP transmission.

Scott Ariotti; sariotti@disti.com

www.MT2-kmi.com

hours of lamp life, which means fewer lamp replacements. And it doesn’t sacrifice image quality in the process—the DLA-VS2200ZG provides exceptional imagery with low latency for an outstanding simulator experience.”

Housed in a rugged chassis for motionbased applications, the DLA-VS2200ZG features wire grid polarizers and inorganic optical components for long life performance. Its 1.4-2.8:1 zoom lens offers remote zoom and focus, +/- 80 percent vertical offset, and +/- 34 percent horizontal offset. The projector also includes RS-232c and LAN connections as well as a wired/IR remote for control.

JVC is also announcing the DLA-VS2200G, which shares the same specifications but does not include a lens. Both projectors maintain the same form factor as previous models, and use the same mounting hardware and lenses, so projector replacement in existing installations is simplified. The DLA-VS2200ZG and DLA-VS2200G are now shipping.

Helicopter Full Flight Simulator Sector Elbit Systems Ltd. recently announced the commissioning of the newest full flight simulator serving Sea King naval helicopter aircrews.

The Sea King Helicopter full flight simulator is a flight and tactical full flight mission simulator designed specifically for Navy’s commando airlift and anti-submarine warfare operations squadrons.

With high-fidelity aircraft and flight models—just like the actual aircraft, the Sea King full-flight simulator (FFS) is designed for Sea King pilots and observers, including initial and periodic training as well as evaluation of new procedures and doctrines.

The Sea King simulator is a PC-based system with glass cockpit, collimated visuals and an electro-pneumatic system with six degrees of freedom for the full range of flight operations experience. It incorporates a roll-on-roll-off system, so any relevant platform can be plugged in, such as that of the cockpit of an advanced special operations helicopter for example.

The simulator can simulate various naval warship deck landings, emergencies and night flying with night vision goggles for a complete air crew experience. The full flight simulator is also equipped with a rear cabin crew simulator to enable joint training of pilots, system operators and crews under varying flight and operational conditions.

Dalia Rosen; dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com

MT2 18.8 | 27

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Training Innovator

Q& A

Developing and Fielding a Blend of Live and Virtual Training Programs Dr. James T. Blake PEO PEO STRI Selected to the Senior Executive Service in March 2003, Dr. James T. Blake became the Program Executive Officer for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation in June 2005. He is responsible for providing materiel solutions and services in modeling, simulation, training and test/instrumentation to support the soldier. The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation annually executes a multi-billion dollar program. More than 1,200 military, government civilian, and service support contractors perform the mission. In addition, the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation’s Foreign Military Sales program supports more than 40 countries. Blake is also dualhatted as the Head of Contracting Activity.

In April 1968, Blake began his service to the nation as a private in the U.S. Army and completed his military career as a colonel on July 1, 1995. He is a dual-rated Master Army Aviator. His last military assignment was as the Army’s senior uniformed Army scientist.

During his military career, Blake served in many positions and locations, including aviation operations in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of research, development and acquisition experience in the Army Acquisition Corps, he holds level-three certifications in six acquisition career fields.

Following his military career, Blake held several technical and executive positions in industry before joining academia where he served as a senior research scientist at Texas A&M University.

While at Texas A&M, Blake joined the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command as the Program Manager for the Institute for Creative Technologies, the internationally recognized University Affiliated Research Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation.. From March 23, 2003, until June 2, 2005, he served as the deputy program executive officer for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

Blake is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Systems Management College, and the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Tampa, an M.S. degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. degree in computer science from Duke University.

Q: What are the top recent success stories for PEO STRI? A: One of the Army’s landmark training programs, the Live, Virtual and Constructive-Integrating Architecture [LVC-IA], has made significant strides. We developed and fielded the first version, and we are now on pace to deliver the second iteration in fiscal year 2015.

The system enables live, virtual and constructive training assets to interoperate in such a way that commanders and staffs get a bona fide training experience [through constructive training] while the www.MT2-kmi.com

individual soldiers or crews also train in a meaningful way [via live and virtual training]. The first version provides the main building blocks for an integrated training environment by linking four existing programs: the Homestation Instrumentation Training System, Close Combat Tactical Trainer, Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer and Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability. The second version includes a gaming element and an immersive squad-level training capability through the Dismounted Soldier Training System, along with other enhancements.

Our efforts to upgrade range communication at the Army’s combat training centers [CTC] also mark a major advancement for Army training. The current communication equipment, which is the backbone of training exercises as it provides location information of troops and equipment and adjudicates between hits and misses, is out of date. The Combat Training Center-Instrumentation System program will upgrade the range communication system at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., in FY15; the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., will be modernized in FY17.

From these upgrades, real-time information will flow to the operation control center in a more effective manner, observer controllers can stitch together a more comprehensive after-action review, and the division commander will more easily be able to see what is going on and even throw a curveball into the training exercise.

MT2 18.8 | 29

Work is also well underway in the upcoming award of a major contract vehicle, the Train, Educate and Coach acquisition, which is referred to as the TEACH contract. TEACH will be a multi-award, services-based contract to increase competition and provide the Army and other military components and agencies with a contract vehicle to procure cost-efficient training services.

Q: How does the LVC-IA fielded at Fort Hood in 2012 address training for hybrid threats of the future?

A: Hybrid threats are a potent and complex variation of warfare. Hybrid warfare can be used to describe the flexible and complex dynamics of the battlespace, requiring a highly adaptable and resilient response. LVC-IA, the primary infrastructure supporting homestation training as part of the Army’s Integrated Training Environment [ITE] fielded to Fort Hood in 2012, is a key component in building a robust future training capability aimed at simulating complex operational environments such as the ones encountered during hybrid warfare. Not only can the ITE’s LVC-IA currently replicate the conditions of conventional and irregular warfare, but it also provides a persistent capability that is flexible enough to employ new training concepts targeted at other hybrid threats such as criminal and cyber activities. LVC-IA enables the Army to bring new and evolving training concepts and capabilities to the soldier in a more expeditious and efficient manner.

Q: In addition to the effort to revitalize home station training, how are you upgrading Army combat training centers through the Combat Training Center-Instrumentation System program?

A: Upgrading the combat training centers is a key priority for the service, as stated in the Army Chief of Staff’s strategic priorities published October 2013. It identified one key tenet for keeping a ready and modern Army, specifically to “rebuild the Army’s combined arms maneuver and wide area security capabilities employing our CTCs to challenge and certify Total Army formations in a comprehensive and realistic decisive action training environment.”

CTC-IS is one of the five pillars of the Army’s Combat Training Center program, enabling high-definition after-action reviews that show cause and effect for the rotational unit using time-stamped voice and video, individual locations and engagement pairings. The majority of the Army’s CTC communications equipment, both voice and data, is late 1990s technology fielded over the last 10 to 20 years.

The aging instrumentation system provides a performance challenge in keeping up with emerging Army training requirements and is increasingly more costly to sustain.

PEO STRI awarded the CTC Range Communication System [RCS] contract in November 2012 to replace the CTCs’ instrumentation capabilities. This included replacing the Observer Controller Communication System and Range Data Management System.

The CTC RCS program uses a single high-band commercial 4G LTE network solution that provides the government the same benefits as the commercial cellular phone technologies. This is a one-time investment in a cellular infrastructure at the CTCs that allows federal defense networks to keep pace with commercial advancements in technology.

At PEO STRI, we are pleased that the upcoming improvements to NTC and JRTC support the chief of staff’s intent to “accelerate the Army’s transition to decisive action” by allowing all CTC participants to be tracked on the training battlefield and included in comprehensive after-action reviews.

Q: How is the Joint Urban Test Capability [JUTC] planned to improve current urban training that the Army has to offer?

A: While the Army has a multitude of fixed sites that facilitate urban training, we have a limited number of facilities that offer a test capability. JUTC provides a set of capabilities to fulfill the Department of Defense’s need for a realistic, reconfigurable and instrumented urban test environment to support developmental and operational testing in a multidimensional battlefield. JUTC will provide the ability to vary an urban environment by reconfiguring an array of building representations, population characteristics, electromagnetic effects and infrared effects to meet the needs of a specific system under test.

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Q: The Dismounted Soldier Training System [DSTS] was deemed a success in 2012. Are there any lessons learned from this training system or plans to improve on that technology?

A: In the first 10 months of 2013, DSTS has trained more than 24,000 soldiers and conducted 5,000-plus scenarios at 27 locations worldwide. During these initial fieldings and training events, the feedback from soldiers using the system provided us with vital suggestions to make DSTS better.

The DSTS team is working to improve the existing technology by employing a number of different enhancements. The DSTS weapons on the current manned modules [M4, M320 and M249] now come equipped with collapsible buttstocks, improved safety selector switches and bolt-catch release form, fit and function. The team is also working to enhance stability and reliability of the DSTS system by incorporating new human sensor and video technologies. Additionally, the new Virtual Battlespace 3 [VBS3] gaming engine will be built into DSTS for more realistic visuals and enhanced scenario generation. VBS2 and VBS3 gaming labs and other training systems will soon be able to connect to DSTS. Q: How will the joint project upgrading targets at the White Sands Missile Range [WSMR] improve testing and training initiatives?

A: We are coordinating with WSMR to replace several existing target control systems with the Army Ground and Aerial Target Control

32 | MT2 18.8

System. This new target control system will enhance WSMR’s ability to efficiently control aerial and ground targets for test, evaluation and training missions. This new system incorporates control of all Army targets into a single target control system with reduced life cycle costs.

This marks a key improvement over current control systems due to the improved reliability through use of communication frequencies that do not conflict with devices using commercial frequencies.

Q: What’s PEO STRI’s involvement with the Army’s plan to rapidly progress the tactical network under the Network Integration Evaluation?

A: Our Project Manager for Instrumentation, Target and Threat Simulators integrates cyber, electronic warfare, physical security and operational security into an integrated threat force capability that fully stresses the cybersecurity posture of Army systems undergoing test at the Network Integration Evaluation.

Q: What role is PEO STRI playing in advancing cyberspace security?

A: We are responsible for the life cycle management of threat capabilities for the Army acquisition community, including cyber. We maintain a portfolio of threat cyber attack capabilities critical for assessing cybersecurity and training our nation’s cyber protection

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professionals. This includes a cadre of cyber experts supporting the research, development and operations of threat cyber capabilities on behalf of the Army and Department of Defense. These professionals and the capabilities they possess are critical to Department of Defense efforts to identify and correct cyber vulnerabilities.

Q: What would PEO STRI like to see from industry in 2014?

A: PEO STRI is looking for integrated technology solutions that provide training capabilities. Ideally, industry would facilitate integration of technology through partnerships between technology companies and development/integration companies during proposal development. These partnerships ensure development teams have a full understanding of the technology and provide seamless integration of system components. This paradigm eliminates the need for PEO STRI to direct integration of technologies into stable program development baselines.

The ultimate outcome of the partnership is a higher-fidelity training experience due to the integration of leading edge technologies into products we buy. This paradigm saves time and money because the development contractors plan technology integration in their program schedule up front. It saves the resources required to re-baseline a program because the government directs a technology insertion after development begins.

This paradigm will greatly improve our ability to transition technology from developer to integrator. Our current technology

transition paradigm is not optimal, frankly viewed by the science and technology [S&T] community as the “Valley of Death” because of the difficulty in aligning S&T breakthroughs with development programs. This proposed paradigm will help to close the “Valley of Death” gap.

Programs in all of our training and testing domains can benefit from this particular model because we have projects in all areas that are looking for technology solutions. It doesn’t matter whether a program is new or in the process of a major upgrade, we are continuously looking for new technology to improve the training experience and testing effectiveness.

In addition to facilitating the integration of technology, we are also seeking more simplified and intuitive device interfaces for straightforward soldier trainability. This way, soldiers can seamlessly fill the role of an instructor-operator, a historically contractor-based task. As more and more installations experience a “full nest” and diminishing resources for contractors, senior commanders will have to look to borrowed military manpower that could be used to assist a unit going through train-up. “Red Cycle” units that are not fully resourced to complete their collective training requirements may be tasked to provide borrowed military manpower to support “Green Cycle” units that are preparing for deployment. The commanders can achieve quality training at less cost if we make it easy for soldiers to perform the tasks that contractors have been performing during the last 12 years. One of the many tasks borrowed military manpower units will be asked to perform is to operate training systems, thus a user-friendly system will assist in the transfer of responsibility.

Q: What is the top challenge facing PEO STRI? A: The uncertainty in the budget, coupled with the need to adjust to meet the Army’s new force structure, presents a major challenge for our organization. As the Army drastically reduces the number of troops and only a selection of the force will be trained to deploymentlevel readiness, we are taking a hard look at our portfolio to determine which and how many training and test enablers are needed to support the new objective force structure. Despite our projected budget reductions, we’re expected to provide relevant and realistic training, on time and within budget, to meet the training needs of tomorrow’s Army.

Q: How does PEO STRI plan to mitigate this challenge?

A: We are currently working with our counterparts at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Army G-3 to determine and invest in the highest priority programs to achieve the highest outcomes for the force.

Q: What programs or initiatives does PEO STRI plan on implementing in the near future?

A: As for the future, we see a definite need for simulation and training capabilities to support the Army’s strategy to move toward regionally aligned forces, which prepares troops for operations in a particular part of the world by immersing them in the culture, language and landscape for which they will deploy. Regionally aligned forces will also deploy as a joint task force with multiservice, interagency and coalition partners, so simulated training preparation for this level of partnership will be crucial for future success. O

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Innovations in sensor technology benefit basic and advanced marksmanship training.

By Mike Casey

A recent demonstration of a new marksmanship training system showed how it helps sniper students and their instructors.

At the Fort Benning, Ga., Sniper School, instructors requested the demonstration after seeing the new location of miss and hit (LOMAH) system at other Fort Benning ranges.

LOMAH uses sensors to detect hits or misses on an attached target. Then sensors at the target emplacement relay the results to android-based tablets at the shooter’s location. LOMAH has the ability to triangulate the shot group and provide the shooter and coach with corrective sight adjustment data. The LOMAH system can be set to provide shot group data in either inches or centimeters.

LOMAH systems have been provided to some installations for basic rifle marksmanship training. LOMAH is overseen by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capability 36 | MT2 18.8

Manager-Live, which is a subordinate organization of the Combined Arms Center–Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. During the Sniper School demonstration, a student and spotter team engaged an E-Type silhouette at more than 500 meters with a sniper rifle.

“At the demonstration, LOMAH depicted the correct bullet strike location more precisely than the student spotter using current techniques,” said Dennis Terry, senior training analyst. “The NCO in charge saw the benefit this system provides and is eager to use this system that will ensure both instructors and students are calling shot locations accurately.”

Terry added that the LOMAH system provides a capability to more effectively prepare instructors and shooters alike while establishing a more efficient and allencompassing training process.

LOMAH, if used properly, reduces ammunition usage. If the spotter does not see the trace of a round fired by the sniper, the

sniper must shoot additional rounds until the spotter sees the trace and relays the location data to the sniper. LOMAH identifies poor techniques quicker so the trainer can correct flaws without expending additional ammunition, Terry said.

The system also reduces training time and increases throughput capabilities, making for more effective and efficient training events.

Terry said Benning’s Sniper School is scheduled to receive a LOMAH system in the near future that will include an additional LOMAH system component called a box LOMAH, a target frame with sensors.

Both LOMAH systems being provided to the Sniper School will be standalone systems that do not require range infrastructure to operate and will be portable to allow leaders to use the systems on any live fire range.

“LOMAH will help accurately gather correct data from the previous engagements,” Terry said. “Once Sniper School www.MT2-kmi.com

leaders get through the research and development phase of this process, they will refine the Army Sniper School and the home station sniper sustainment training strategy.”

Last year, the LOMAH system passed its government acceptance test. At the time, it was designed for the M16/M4 series weapons with iron sights, back-up iron sights, close combat optic or advanced combat optical gunsights. It can be used for BRM and advanced rifle marksmanship.

During the test, LOMAH showed how it makes rifle ranges more efficient. An active-duty platoon from Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division took part in the LOMAH government acceptance test at Fort Benning.

The platoon used the LOMAH range to conduct three marksmanship tasks on one range. Tasks included: • •

Grouping and zeroing (at distance).

Practicing qualification and qualification versus using three

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•

different ranges to complete the task of zeroing (at 25 meters).

Confirming zero at distance (normally conducted on known distance range) and qualifying.

All tasks were accomplished using standard qualification targets.

“LOMAH will save time by allowing soldiers to qualify more quickly,” said Matt Golden, targetry development team chief of TCM-Live, Joint Base LangleyEustis, Va. For example, it would take a unit three days and three ranges to zero at 25 meters, confirm zero on the known distance (KD) range and qualify on an automated record fire range or modified record fire range.

The LOMAH system embedded on a qualification range will allow all three tasks to be completed on one range. Soldiers move more quickly through the tasks because each lane is run independently and shooters can progress to the next task. The LOMAH range has no need

for a detail to raise and lower targets to show shooters their performance as currently required on KD ranges.

Besides Fort Benning, LOMAH has been fielded to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Eustis, Va., and Fort Drum, N.Y. TCM Live is the Army’s lead agent and TRADOC Capability Manager for capability development and user activities at live training systems that support unit training and leader development.

CAC-T, which is a subordinate organization of the Combine Arms Center, manages Army training support and training development, and provides unit training and leader development programs and products to support Army readiness. O Mike Casey is the public affairs officer at the Combined Arms Center – Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

MT2 18.8 | 37

2014 Look Ahead Budget cuts put more emphasis on simulated training.

Budgets are being slashed across the board due to sequestration and there is potential for more cuts to come in the near future. While funding for all programs is being affected, Department of Defense leadership has insisted that training remains a high priority. This puts more emphasis on model and simulation training. Military Training Technology reached out to several industry leaders and asked: With today’s austere budget environment and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down, how do they see the role of model and simulation training changing in 2014?

Michael J. Paley President, Aptima paley@aptima.com

Winding down in Afghanistan and Iraq in and of itself doesn’t present major training issues.

Rather, it was the concerted focus on these two regions that emphasized the need to refresh training for the missions and locations that lie ahead. Modeling and simulation provide the means to expose and prepare troops to a wider

range of future missions and situations, for whatever and wherever those assignments might be.

Budget pressures only further make the case for using modeling and simulation to assess and enhance training effectiveness. Model-based assessments can determine which methods are best for training which skill. Simulation-based

training will help conserve live (and therefore more expensive) training exercises for those skills that call for the highest fidelity environments. By leveraging M&S training solutions to develop certain skills through lower cost environments, warfighters can also be better prepared for the more costly live event training, which increases the return on its investment.

Mark McGraw

Vice President, Boeing Training Systems and Government Services

Even with today’s tough environment, modeling and simulation will continue to be critical to military readiness. We are focused on finding ways to continue to deliver the best training that can help keep fundamental operational skills sharp, and do so affordably. We are fortunate to be able to draw on the breadth of our commercial airplane efforts and other entities across Boeing to ensure what we offer our customers leverages the latest training and technology developments.

More customers may place even greater emphasis on ground-based training versus live flights. We’ve seen that

38 | MT2 18.8

with the U.S. Navy and the significant investments made in the P-8A Integrated Training Center in Jacksonville, Fla., where we’ve delivered Operational Flight Trainers, Weapons Tactics Trainers, Part Task Trainers and electronic classrooms to their state-of-the-art facility. At the start of the P-8 training program, the Navy had a vision of flipping the traditional split between the amount of training flights and those in a simulator. We’ve worked closely to create the sort of immersive environment with the ability to complete full missions to help enable that goal.

The role of modeling and simulation may also be impacted by the increased

training needs found in international markets. In the Middle East, for example, where aircraft fleets are growing, we’re able to build on our platform and training knowledge, and tailor to their unique requirements.

Readiness in the future will also require different solutions and commitments. We continue to work with our customers and look at industry trends to determine how we can meet their needs in the areas of more costeffective training solutions, enhanced collaboration between military and industry, and investments in new solutions.

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Ray Duquette President and General Manager, CAE USA duke@caemilusa.com

CAE firmly believes that the increased and more efficient use of simulation is part of the solution to lowering costs without sacrificing readiness or capability. We are part of a market segment that is seen as offering a solution to budget challenges, so we see a bright future for modeling and simulation. That’s not to say, however, that 2014 won’t present some significant challenges. There have certainly been some headwinds for defense in general, and the simulation industry hasn’t been immune to the overall budget environment here in the United States. Like many of my colleagues in industry, though, we wish the budget uncertainties and continued delays would subside so we can all— government and industry—move forward and make the plans and decisions required to address the challenges.

The simulation industry offers a compelling value proposition that simply cannot be ignored in today’s constrained budget environment. The

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simple fact is that simulation-based training is less expensive than live training. The increased cost of fuel, environmental impacts and significant wear and tear on weapon systems all point to the greater use of simulation, and we are seeing all the U.S. services move in this direction. On new platforms such as the P-8A and F-35, you can see how training curriculums are changing to incorporate an increasing amount of synthetic training. Perhaps just as importantly, simulation is the ideal tool for mission preparation and rehearsal, which is critical for maintaining readiness and doing so both safely and cost-effectively.

One thing we would like to see addressed in the United States is federal acquisition regulations that make it very difficult for the Department of Defense to enter into long-term training services contracts that include the acquisition of simulators. There have been concerns about the military acquiring simulators with operations and maintenance

funding via services contracts, but the real question should be: What’s the best way for the military services to get the required training, keep technology current, maintain readiness, and at the same time reduce financial risks and save money in a tight budget environment? There are some great examples of long-term services contracts working well in other countries, enabling industry to make up-front investments and become more of a risk-sharing partner with the government. We would like the U.S. to at least be able to consider this sort of approach to training, and there is precedence in other areas—military base housing, for example—but right now there are laws in place that make it difficult for training services. With the budget challenges confronting DoD in 2014 and the foreseeable future, we believe longterm training services could be a way to save money, decrease risk, secure investment and contribute to enhanced training effectiveness.

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MT2 18.8 | 39

Gary Nesta

Vice President of Business Development, L-3 Link gary.nesta@l-3com.com

L-3 Link sees the role of simulation and training becoming even more important to our nation’s military services and global customers worldwide in the coming year.

One example is in the area of reduced operations tempo, and how this will have an impact on warfighters being able to maintain their mission capabilities. As operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have significantly reduced, so has the opportunity for soldiers, seamen and aircrew to stay mission ready when they return home. When the pace of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan was at its peak, it was normal for aviators to operate their actual platforms anywhere from 40 to 50 hours a month. As personnel return, the opportunities to man their actual platforms will be reduced to five to 10 hours a month. We believe there is an opportunity for industry to enhance existing

and develop new training solutions that will help ensure personnel retain critical skills.

This increased reliance on simulation to maintain operational skills comes at a time when the industry is fielding a new generation of simulators that are providing much improved realism.

Training systems we’re fielding at L-3 Link, such as on our F-16 and F/A-18 programs, are increasingly robust, realistic and able to simulate relevant environments. For these simulation systems we’ve developed physicsbased solutions that offer both out-thewindow and a correlated view through all sensors stimulated by dense content, enabling the services to accomplish a broader range of training tasks through the use of simulators.

As these warfighters continue to return from theater, they will continue

to share lessons learned that will call for additional capabilities to be integrated into fielded training devices. One constant we’re hearing from all of our customers is that risk mitigation begins with training on devices that provide more realistic environments and have high physical and functional capability.

To that end, we expect the military services to begin to identify requirements that in some cases will call for trainer modification efforts. Some of these modification efforts will be driven by the need for simulators to maintain operational platform concurrency, others will be driven by obsolescence, and still others will take place by injecting fielded systems with new training technologies. Upgrading fielded trainers to provide enhanced warfighter training is one of the smartest investments services can make in today’s environment.

Dr. J. Greg Hanson

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Solutions Sector, NCI Inc. ghanson@nciinc.com

With tight budgets, shifting priorities, and the need for our military to be ever more nimble, MS&T is among the most important tools for our nation’s overall readiness. And, with the incredible advances in computing power and M&S software, we have several opportunities in the fields of modeling, simulation and training.

Let’s take the Air Force as an example. With far fewer resources, we are flying our aircraft longer and have extended their service lives far beyond the original design envelope (the B-52 is the classic example). As a direct consequence of this service-life extension, the lifecycle sustainment chains for support and training equipment must also be lengthened since the government cannot afford to build new trainers. Therefore, the DMSMS and logistics support issues that were once the primary villains in the

40 | MT2 18.8

operational weapons system sustainment battle have become just as villainous in the training system domain. One could argue that those issues are even more critical in the training domain for a couple of reasons: 1) most training systems had little to no lifecycle sustainment built into their acquisitions, so CLS for them is always playing catch up in terms of concurrence and obsolescence, and 2) training systems cannot meet their primary function (i.e., proving cost savings by reducing flying missions for training) if they are down for maintenance. So, it’s a double whammy. The dichotomy is that the whole purpose of MS&T is to save costs by reducing missions and to allow operators to perform activities without the risk of life associated with real operating environments; however, funding for training continues to be at the end of the feeding trough.

In terms of the readiness challenge, a logical choice is to turn to M&S, because simulation environments are extremely useful for complex planning activities (e.g., deploying for military operations in unfamiliar remote locations). We have seen some movement in this direction in aerial command and control, with systems like the battle command staff training heading toward more live missions by reaching out to other air defense sectors to provide ABM controllers for real-world training.

This type of operation requires close coordination among many command and control entities—a perfect scenario for a simulation environment. For example, NCI enabled this coordination through a TDF-based command and control structure that facilitates these real-world interfaces (i.e., EADS communications and radar inputs). O

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Students Have Hands-on STEM Experience

By Dolly Rairigh Glass While the majority of the focus for Team Orlando members is on leveraging each other’s work with the goal of improving human performance through simulation, there is a significant amount of time and effort they commit to stimulating the minds of young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In today’s climate, with daily advancements in scientific and technological innovations, it becomes even more important to encourage students to develop their talents and interests in the STEM fields. Advocates believe STEM is the key to future careers, and if there isn’t an increase in the current rate of STEM graduates, there will certainly be a shortage of qualified workers to fill future positions.

In an effort to help show students that STEM careers branch out far beyond what they have etched in their minds and get them excited about all of the possibilities, representatives from the Army Research LaboratoryHuman Research and Engineering Directorate, Simulation and Training Technology Center and the Veterans Administration Simulation Learning, Education and Research Network (SimLEARN) took part in a handson, interactive simulation symposium.

The event, “Simulation: Evolutionary Past, Boundless Future,” was presented in partnership by the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida and the National Center for Simulation on September 30. More than 400 high school and middle school students from areas throughout Florida attended.

Jack Norfleet, chief engineer for the Medical Simulation Research branch at the Army Research Laboratory Simulation and Training Technology Center (ARL STTC), and his team, were part of the Healthcare Interactive Session. Here they were able to show students a few of the many projects currently underway at the STTC, including a medical hologram, an educational mobile card game, and some research and development they are supporting focused on delivering the highest-fidelity upper respiratory training system.

42 | MT2 18.8

“It was a great opportunity for our team to share with the students and let them experience how a STEM-related education can be applied outside of what they may consider as traditional,” Norfleet said. “The students were very engaged in what we had to say and I enjoyed the interaction with them as well.”

Dr. Christine Allen, science and technology manager and also with ARL STTC, spent most of the sessions demonstrating the Combat Medic Card Game, developed by the STTC in partnership with the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulation and Training.

The game is made for mobile devices, is easily transportable, and combat medics can use it after duty hours and during mission lulls to refresh critical life-saving skills.

“The students brought so much energy to the session and were genuinely interested in how and why we were developing these products,” Allen said. “Showing them firsthand some of the areas where they can apply a future education in STEM and getting them excited about it was our main thrust in taking part in this event.”

Simultaneously in the healthcare session, VA SimLEARN team members set up multiple environments for demonstrations and to enable visiting students to “practice” simulated medical procedures. Dr. Haru Okuda, national medical director, VHA, SimLEARN, was part of the team that participated in the symposium, and enjoys the opportunity to share the handson opportunity with young, eager students.

“It was very exciting to have the opportunity to interact with this group of interested high school and middle school students,” Okuda said. “They all got the ‘hands-on’ experience for using various, state-of-the-art, modeling and simulation-based clinical training tools used within Veterans Health Administration for improving workforce skills in providing health care to our veteran patients. They eagerly participated in drills for difficult airway intubations, central line placements, resuscitation, laparoscopic surgery and high-fidelity mannequin operations.”

“The Lou Frey Institute, University of Central Florida, and supporting partners provided

a well-organized and executed event that captivated over 430 students from over 13 area high schools and middle schools,” said Harry Robinson, national program manager, SimLEARN. “The SimLEARN faculty and staff were grateful for the opportunity to join the team in showcasing several simulation-based training modalities that are fundamentally changing and improving clinical health care training.

“The medical domain is quickly moving over the precipice to increase training efficiency through simulation while maintaining the high standards historically achieved through on-the-job training, Robinson said. “Our student attendees certainly seemed enthused and enjoyed the chance to learn more about their future prospects in STEM.” Students in attendance at “Simulation: Evolutionary Past, Boundless Future” also participated in interactive sessions in the areas of DoD training andsimulation, education and training, modeling and engineering analysis, and entertainment. This was the 22nd symposium in the Lou Frey Institute series, which features two per year, but the first time organizers have incorporated hands-on sessions with the students.

“It was at the suggestion of Lou Frey that National Center for Simulation (NCS) partner with the Institute and pursue a symposium focused on simulation,” said retired Air Force Lieutenant General Tom Baptiste, president and executive director for NCS. “NCS is celebrating our 20th anniversary in the spring and Lou felt this event would be a great way to kick off that occasion, and from there we received great support and encouragement from the MS&T community.

“Growing from its roots in military training, the region’s MS&T industry today contributes to many diverse fields,” Baptiste added. “When we can show students how a STEM-focused education can open doors in many areas of interest, we not only get them excited about the possibilities, we help to grow the much-needed STEM workforce of the future.” O www.MT2-kmi.com

The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations.

MT2 RESOURCE CENTER Advertisers Index AAI Logistics & Technical Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.aaicorp.com Adacel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 www.adacel.com Aechelon Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.aechelon.com AEgis Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 www.aegistg.com Aero Simulation Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 www.aerosimulation.com AgustaWestland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 www.agustawestland.com Aptima. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 www.aptima.com Bihrle Applied Research Inc.. . . . 15 www.bihrle.com/stallbox Bohemia Interactive Simulations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 www.vbs3.com CAE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 www.cae.com/mh-60 Calienté. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 www.calientellc.com/thermaltargets Concurrent Real-Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 www.real-time.ccur.com Defense Logistics Support Inc.. . . 12 www.dlsmilwraps.com Digimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 www.digimation.com Disti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1 www.disti.com Disti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.disti.com

DynCorp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 www.dyn-intl.com JRL Ventures Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 www.jrlventuresinc.com Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. . . . . . . . . 6-7 www.kmwsim.com L-3 Link Simulation & Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 www.link.com L-3 Link Simulation & Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 www.link.com Meggitt Training Systems. . . . . . . . . 28 www.meggitttrainingsystems.com MetaVR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 Gatefold www.metavr.com NCI Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 www.nciinc.com Northrop Grumman Technical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 www.northropgrumman.com/ts Raydon Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.raydon.com Ruag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.ruag.com Saab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 www.saabgroup.com Scalable Network Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 www.scalable-networks.com The Tatitlek Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . 1 www.tatitlek.com

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Hardy L-3 Link Simulation & Training is proud to salute Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) Michael Hardy, an instructor pilot and regimental assault flight lead with Company D, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

CW5 Hardy is responsible for planning and executing worldwide direct action and short notice joint special operations missions. His 12 years of deployment have led to refining tactics, training and procedures within his unit. His experience includes leading over 20 direct action missions on two deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. CW5 Hardy earned the 2012 Army Aviation Association of America Michael J. Novosel Aviator of the Year award. We salute CW5 Hardy and all of the brave men and women who are helping to keep our nation free.

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MT2 18.8 | 43

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW

Military Training Technology

W. Garth Smith Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer MetaVR Inc. W. Garth Smith co-founded MetaVR with Richard M. Rybacki in 1997. Smith holds the position of chief operating officer of MetaVR, overseeing all corporate operations, new business development and product development strategy.

Multiple Unified Simulation Environment/Air Force Synthetic Environment for Reconnaissance and Surveillance simulation system, which is used at Fort Huachuca and other UAS training sites.

Q: Can you describe MetaVR’s history and evolution?

Q: What is an example of your success in the military?

A: We launched MetaVR in 1997 when using PC-based graphics and COTS graphics cards for real-time simulation for the military simulation market was considered heresy. At that time Silicon Graphics and Evans and Sutherland were the leaders in this market. Those were the days!

Q: What are some of your key products in the DoD training and simulation industry?

A: Our main product, Virtual Reality Scene Generator [VRSG], is a real-time 3-D graphicsrendering engine that can render very large, expansive and realistic geo-specific areas.

For input to our render engine we developed MetaVR Terrain Tools plugin to Esri ArcGIS, which enables users to build highresolution geospecific terrain. We recently released a game-level like application, VRSG Scenario Editor, for creating dense 3-D scenes and pattern-of-life scenarios to run in VRSG. Now customers can build their terrain, populate it with culture, and then create tactical training scenarios to run in VRSG. Critical to our applications are our extensive model libraries of over 4,300 models, which are installed with VRSG. Q: What are some of the new training/simulation technologies MetaVR is developing?

A: The latest release of VRSG includes two major features: VRSG’s new physics-based IR sensor modeling capability, which we developed jointly with Technology Service Corporation, entails real-time computation of the IR sensor image directly from the visual database.

It combines automatic material classification of visual RGB imagery with a physics-based IR radiance and sensor model. VRSG Scenario Editor enables users to create and edit real-time scenarios to play back in VRSG. 44 | MT2 18.8

A user can drag and drop culture and moving models directly onto the 3-D terrain, create paths with waypoints, assign appearances and animations, and then sequence the activities in a timeline. Users can play the scenario in VRSG, and share it in a network exercise.

Another effort is our JTAC desktop simulator, which we developed jointly with BattleSpace Simulations [BSI] and which is comprised of BSI’s Modern Air Combat Environment [MACE] scenario/entity generator and VRSG. Q: How are you positioned for the future within the military?

A: MetaVR is a 100 percent COTS software products company. We publish the prices of our software on our website. And we are sensitive to our market and our customers’ needs.

For example, we do not charge any labor fees associated with developing features that customers request. And we have not increased the price of our software in five years.

Q: What is MetaVR’s connection with the defense community?

A: We have a long history of working with our customers directly. As they are the subject matter experts in their training domain, we let them guide our feature development so our products fulfill their training needs. For example, the features of our JTAC desktop simulator are based on interviews with JTAC trainers, primarily through the U.S. National Guard and Air Force Special Operations Command. VRSG’s physics-based IR simulation and Scenario Editor are two more examples; feedback from UAV operator and JTAC trainers led us to develop these features. Our visuals have been used for a number of years in UAS training simulators, mainly through the

A: After our two-year joint and self-funded development effort with BSI, the resulting JTAC simulator was granted accreditation last year by the Joint Fire Support Executive Steering Committee for types 1, 2, 3, and day/night control, and laser target designation. The simulator has the highest rating of any available JTAC simulator for these types of controls. Prior to the accreditation the simulator had been fielded at a handful of training sites. Once the accreditation was granted, sales for the simulator increased dramatically. This year MetaVR and BSI have fielded over 20 JTAC training simulators to customers throughout the USAF, including Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command and Air National Guard units.

Recently, we, BSI, and Immersive Display Solutions were chosen for the U.S. Air National Guard Advanced JTAC Training System prototype immersive dome-based system, which was unveiled in September at the Ramstein Rover NATO training event.

Q: How do customers benefit from MetaVR’s varied resources and expertise?

A: Our customers have direct access to our engineering staff. Anyone can communicate directly with us. Customers email us to request enhancements, new features and new models.

As mentioned earlier, we treat our customers as subject-matter experts who greatly inform our product development. It’s a merit-based interaction.

Q: How do you measure success?

A: By being able to look customers in the eye, shake their hand, and know that we have given them something of value that they are happy with. O

wgsmith@metavr.com www.MT2-kmi.com

Training

KNOW-HOW

When it comes to training, we know how to deliver integrated solutions that improve proficiency, promote self-sufficiency and increase mission readiness.

At DynCorp International, we design, build and execute sophisticated training solutions to fit the world’s most complex training needs. Whether it’s delivering global training solutions for military, government, intelligence or foreign government customers or providing specialized training as part of a logistics or aviation solution, we help our customers reduce costs and achieve new levels of performance and productivity.

DynCorp International provides our customers with unique, tailored training solutions for an ever-changing world.

www.dyn-intl.com