The German Army has supported the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the pre-deployment training of OPCW inspectors who were sent to Syria to verify and destroy the country's chemical weapons arsenal.
To that end, the Bundeswehr UN Training Centre in Hammelburg carried out training in October 2013 for a total of 24 inspectors from all over the world. The course was designed to prepare specialists for activities in crisis and conflict regions.
During the course at the Army training centre Wildflecken, the inspectors were confronted with realistic, near operational scenarios and have learned to deal with critical situations and to react appropriately.
The first OPCW team was also prepared by the Bundeswehr. The training support is a particularly visible and substantial contribution of the German Armed Forces to support international efforts to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria.
Thales has acquired XPI Simulation, one of the UK's most innovative developers of driving simulation technology. XPI is a pioneer in using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to build and deliver high-fidelity simulated environments. The company specialises in innovative techniques for processing LIDAR data, a technology which maps physical environments in ultra-fine detail using a range of light frequencies, and ray tracing, which generates highly-realistic images by tracing the path of light and simulating its interaction with virtual objects.
XPI designs and manufactures a range of simulator-based driver training systems for customers that include the UK's MoD, British Police Forces, and advanced driver training providers.
Rockwell Collins has unveiled its ProSim ultra contrast projector, providing the visual refinement and reliability to take simulation and training to the next level of realism.
The new projector enhances simulation through an industry-leading native contrast ratio, using patented technology to simultaneously display darker blacks and lighter whites than any other projector on the market, according to the company.
ProSim's new Intensity Management System maintains constant brightness over the lifetime of the projector by adjusting the lamp's power supply to the lamp to compensate for bulb degradation, and keeping maintenance requirements to a minimum.
ProSim's black levels provide improved realism to night vision goggle training and other night scenes without the need for iris or aperture changes. Its sequential contrast of greater than 500,000:1 is achieved along with a night vision contrast greater than 50,000:1.
Demand for the ProSim projector has been driven by needs in the fast jet and helicopter simulation and training markets.
At I/ITSEC 2013 visitors to the Rockwell Collins booth have opportunities to experience ProSim on a large single-screen image driven by six ProSim projectors and dark room night vision goggle simulations using two ProSim projectors.
Rolls-Royce was awarded a $50.7 million MissionCare contract extension by the US DoD to provide continued support for the F405 (ADOUR) engines that power the US Navy's T-45 training aircraft.
The contract extension will continue the MissionCare support the Rolls-Royce has provided the US Navy's training fleet for the past ten years. MissionCare applies commercial POWER BY THE HOUR principles to the unique requirements of the defence industry, to give customers affordable, predictable service costs.
In addition to powering the T-45 GOSHAWK and other military aircraft, the ADOUR engine will also power the HAWK AJTS aircraft, a contender for the USAF T-X trainer programme.
Under the terms of the agreement administered by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Rolls-Royce will provide total inventory control, integrated logistics support and required engineering elements for both the F405 engine and the aircraft gas turbine starting system. The support ranges from on-wing through intermediate and depot level maintenance.
The contract will run through March 2014, providing comprehensive propulsion services to more than 200 aircraft.
Visualisation expert Barco will update the TIGER helicopter simulator display in the Oakey Army Air Base in Queensland, Australia.
By order of the main prime contractor, Thales Australia, Barco is teaming up with simulation display system integrator Real Time Integrators (RTI). The project includes the installation of 20 of projectiondesign's high-end F35 WQXGA projectors and WB2560 image processing systems and is scheduled for completion in early Q2 2014.
In addition to the projectors and image processing systems, Barco and RTI will install new projector mounting systems, updated digital video cabling, networking infrastructure, and RTI's Chronos Optical Edge Blending System and Tempo Multi-Channel Time of Day Luminance Matching System.
Rockwell Collins has unveiled RealFires, a new targeting training solution that uses both real and virtual environments to train users of Rockwell Collins' leading-edge targeting technologies.
RealFires provides realistic day and night targeting simulation, with the flexibility to include a mix of live, artificial intelligence-based and programmed role players. The system is also capable of including remote role players in flying aircraft.
The realism of RealFires is powered by Rockwell Collins' FireStorm Integrated Targeting System, CORE simulation architecture, Rosetta Joint Fires software suite data management solution, StrikeHawk video downlink receiver, and DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver), along with other Rockwell Collins and sourced content. RealFires can be delivered in solutions ranging from a transportable desktop system to a 360° Rockwell Collins GRIFFIN rear-projected dome display system.
DiSTI, a provider of 3D interactive user interface software and customised training solutions, was awarded a contract by an international customer to build a virtual maintenance trainer for the F-16C Block 52 aircraft. The virtual maintenance trainer will enhance training initiatives of the aircraft while reducing training costs.
The F-16 aircraft first entered service in 1978 for the USAF and quickly evolved into a world-wide multi-role fighter aircraft. Today more than 4,500 are in service in 26 countries, and as a backbone to several defence organisations, the fast and efficient handling of the F-16 to minimise downtime is crucial for mission success. Using the latest technologies to create a virtual maintenance trainer will augment traditional training for aircraft crewmembers and helps ensure the F-16 is always mission ready.
Elbit Systems commissioned its newest full flight simulator (FFS) for an undisclosed Navy's SEA KING naval helicopter aircrews. Elbit will also provide maintenance and support for the FFS for seven years.
The SEA KING Helicopter FFS is a flight and tactical full flight mission simulator for naval commando airlift and anti-submarine warfare operations squadrons. It is designed for SEA KING pilots and observers including initial and periodic training as well as evaluation of new procedures and doctrines.
The 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 the cockpit of an Advanced Special Operations Helicopter.
The FFS can simulate various naval warship deck landings, emergencies and night flying with night vision goggles. It is equipped with a rear cabin crew simulator to enable joint training of pilots, system operators and crews under varying flight and operational conditions.
Cubic Defense Systems won a contract in excess of $10 million from the USMC to supply weapon instrumentation that will integrate into the Instrumented-Tactical Engagement Simulation System (I-TESS II).
Cubic will support the design, development, integration, ruggedised prototype, testing and effectiveness evaluation of enhancements to the squad immersive training environment (SITE) and the integration with I-TESS II.
I-TESS II is a fully integrated ground combat training system based on the company’s latest laser-based wireless instrumentation products. The system is used in military operations in urban terrain facilities and non-live fire manoeuvre ranges located at various Marine Corps bases and installations.
Cubic Defense Systems has won a $10 million contract with the US Army Reserves to provide its Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 3000) virtual training system, simulated weapons and services.
EST 3000 trains marksmanship, offensive and defensive collective, and “shoot-don’t shoot” judgmental firing skills. The EST 3000 is a portable system that leverages the training capabilities provided by the EST 2000 US Army-certified system. It will give the U.S. Army Reserves enhanced fundamentals of marksmanship capabilities through immediate feedback efficiency indicators (trigger pressure, pitch, cant) and 3D targets. The system uses high-fidelity, game-engine graphics that provide realism to marksmanship and collective scenarios. This overall simulation capability will allow Reserve Soldiers to increase their training effectiveness with reduced time and cost, and supports the overall Army Reserves training strategy.
Lockheed Martin has received a $113 million contract from the USAF to design, develop, field and sustain aircrew training devices for HH-60G PAVE HAWK search and rescue (SAR) helicopters.
Lockheed will deliver eight HH-60G training simulators, spares and logistics support to the USAF as part of the PAVE HAWK Equivalent Distributive Repeatable Operative Simulators (PEDROS) trainer programme. The simulators will be used to prepare aircrews for the full spectrum of personnel recovery, including combat search and rescue missions in multiple environments.
The HH-60G PEDROS simulator will be embedded with aircrew squadrons, giving them increased access to training and simulation scenarios, improving aircrew readiness and eliminating the need to travel to training facilities. The simulator reduces aircraft maintenance costs, saves flight hours and includes software upgrades and enhancements that increase speed and capability. It is also re-locatable to support long-term deployments.
3D perception introduced the next generation NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP simulator screens. 3D perception has developed a new series of NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP (glassfibre-reinforced plastic) screens.
The NORTHSTAR AURORA is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and is an excellent choice for applications with tight floor space or ceiling height requirements.
The screens are delivered with AURORA WarpSync and ChromaSync instrumentation for full integration with the NORTHSTAR ecosystem.
The first installation of the new NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP screen was recently done at Cameron's training centre in Kristiansand, Norway.
The simulator utilises a state-of-the-art 5-channel display system, complete with NORTHSTAR nBox, NORTHSTAR CompactView WUX 42 Simulation Certified Projectors, NORTHSTAR nControl control software and the new instrumented NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP screen. This display system ensures a high quality seamless image, full control during operation, and easy and efficient maintenance procedures.
MetaVR has built a 3D virtual representation of the southern Somalia port city of Kismayo. The high-resolution 3D terrain is populated with hundreds of geographically specific culture models built from ground-level photographs taken on the streets of Kismayo. In addition to these geolocated and photo-specific models of buildings and other structures, several hundred other buildings were modeled by matching the structural footprints visible in the imagery as geotypical models with culturally and architecturally accurate details.
The models are combined with 50 cm per-pixel Digital Globe (GeoEye-1) satellite imagery covering 1,017 sq km of the southern Somalia port city and are blended into 15-meter natural view imagery of all of Somalia with SRTM void filled elevation source data. This virtual terrain was built in MetaVR's round-earth format with MetaVR Terrain Tools for Esri ArcGIS for visualizing in the company’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG). For placing persistent cultural features on the terrain, VRSG Scenario Editor was used as part of the terrain workflow. VRSG Scenario Editor was also used to create multiple scenarios that are delivered with the terrain. The Kismayo 3D terrain and the scenarios are demonstrated at I/ITSEC in MetaVR's booth 1249.
MetaVR chose Kismayo as the location for its new virtual 3D environment because the city contains varied terrain representative of important training environments, from a built-up port to dense urban streets to a sparsely populated outer region that includes a commercial airport. This virtual terrain is an entirely self-financed venture by MetaVR.
Less than six months after the Brazilian Army selected MASA SWORD as its constructive simulation software to train its command staff at battalion, brigade, division and army levels, COMBATER, the Brazilian name of the customized version of SWORD, has entered into service for the first time.
At I/ITSEC, TC (Lt.Col.) Sergio Peres of the Simulation Division of the Brazilian Army's Comando de Operações Terrestres (COTER), joined representatives from MASA Group giving an exclusive overview of the country's first full-scale, next generation simulation exercise using COMBATER, powered by SWORD.
Parsons is exhibiting at I/ITSEC 2013. “Parsons is proud to be a participating sponsor at I/ITSEC 2013,” said Mary Ann Hopkins, Parsons Group President. “This conference will be a great opportunity for our team to exchange ideas and best practices with other leaders in the modeling, simulation, and training industry and demonstrate our capabilities in this market.”
This is the fourth consecutive year that Parsons has exhibited at I/ITSEC. The Parsons booth presents several of its programmes, including the Multi-Spectral Sea and Land Target Simulator (MSALTS), Mission Support & Training, and Special Operations Support. Parsons demonstrates expertise in threat weapons systems analysis with systems engineering and integration capabilities to produce a sea and land training program for the US military. Parsons also showcases its commercial and federal cybersecurity services, which span specialty research and product development, consultation, cyber risk and vulnerability assessments, cyber architecture roadmaps, and technology programme management.
At I/ITSEC 2013, Thales is showcasing their impressive range of Thales Training and Simulation solutions. Wherever people are operating in critical environments, Thales' role is to ensure they achieve and maintain the highest possible capability in the shortest possible time, using simulation-based and enhanced-live training solutions. Whether the task is to train helicopter crews, controllers of urban transport networks, submarine crews, or allied ground forces on operations, Thales' innovative solutions are enduring, adaptable, scalable and affordable.
To that end, the Bundeswehr UN Training Centre in Hammelburg carried out training in October 2013 for a total of 24 inspectors from all over the world. The course was designed to prepare specialists for activities in crisis and conflict regions.
During the course at the Army training centre Wildflecken, the inspectors were confronted with realistic, near operational scenarios and have learned to deal with critical situations and to react appropriately.
The first OPCW team was also prepared by the Bundeswehr. The training support is a particularly visible and substantial contribution of the German Armed Forces to support international efforts to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria.
***
Thales has acquired XPI Simulation, one of the UK's most innovative developers of driving simulation technology. XPI is a pioneer in using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to build and deliver high-fidelity simulated environments. The company specialises in innovative techniques for processing LIDAR data, a technology which maps physical environments in ultra-fine detail using a range of light frequencies, and ray tracing, which generates highly-realistic images by tracing the path of light and simulating its interaction with virtual objects.
XPI designs and manufactures a range of simulator-based driver training systems for customers that include the UK's MoD, British Police Forces, and advanced driver training providers.
***
Rockwell Collins has unveiled its ProSim ultra contrast projector, providing the visual refinement and reliability to take simulation and training to the next level of realism.
The new projector enhances simulation through an industry-leading native contrast ratio, using patented technology to simultaneously display darker blacks and lighter whites than any other projector on the market, according to the company.
ProSim's new Intensity Management System maintains constant brightness over the lifetime of the projector by adjusting the lamp's power supply to the lamp to compensate for bulb degradation, and keeping maintenance requirements to a minimum.
ProSim's black levels provide improved realism to night vision goggle training and other night scenes without the need for iris or aperture changes. Its sequential contrast of greater than 500,000:1 is achieved along with a night vision contrast greater than 50,000:1.
Demand for the ProSim projector has been driven by needs in the fast jet and helicopter simulation and training markets.
At I/ITSEC 2013 visitors to the Rockwell Collins booth have opportunities to experience ProSim on a large single-screen image driven by six ProSim projectors and dark room night vision goggle simulations using two ProSim projectors.
***
Rolls-Royce was awarded a $50.7 million MissionCare contract extension by the US DoD to provide continued support for the F405 (ADOUR) engines that power the US Navy's T-45 training aircraft.
The contract extension will continue the MissionCare support the Rolls-Royce has provided the US Navy's training fleet for the past ten years. MissionCare applies commercial POWER BY THE HOUR principles to the unique requirements of the defence industry, to give customers affordable, predictable service costs.
In addition to powering the T-45 GOSHAWK and other military aircraft, the ADOUR engine will also power the HAWK AJTS aircraft, a contender for the USAF T-X trainer programme.
Under the terms of the agreement administered by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Rolls-Royce will provide total inventory control, integrated logistics support and required engineering elements for both the F405 engine and the aircraft gas turbine starting system. The support ranges from on-wing through intermediate and depot level maintenance.
The contract will run through March 2014, providing comprehensive propulsion services to more than 200 aircraft.
***
Visualisation expert Barco will update the TIGER helicopter simulator display in the Oakey Army Air Base in Queensland, Australia.
By order of the main prime contractor, Thales Australia, Barco is teaming up with simulation display system integrator Real Time Integrators (RTI). The project includes the installation of 20 of projectiondesign's high-end F35 WQXGA projectors and WB2560 image processing systems and is scheduled for completion in early Q2 2014.
In addition to the projectors and image processing systems, Barco and RTI will install new projector mounting systems, updated digital video cabling, networking infrastructure, and RTI's Chronos Optical Edge Blending System and Tempo Multi-Channel Time of Day Luminance Matching System.
***
Rockwell Collins has unveiled RealFires, a new targeting training solution that uses both real and virtual environments to train users of Rockwell Collins' leading-edge targeting technologies.
RealFires provides realistic day and night targeting simulation, with the flexibility to include a mix of live, artificial intelligence-based and programmed role players. The system is also capable of including remote role players in flying aircraft.
The realism of RealFires is powered by Rockwell Collins' FireStorm Integrated Targeting System, CORE simulation architecture, Rosetta Joint Fires software suite data management solution, StrikeHawk video downlink receiver, and DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver), along with other Rockwell Collins and sourced content. RealFires can be delivered in solutions ranging from a transportable desktop system to a 360° Rockwell Collins GRIFFIN rear-projected dome display system.
***
DiSTI, a provider of 3D interactive user interface software and customised training solutions, was awarded a contract by an international customer to build a virtual maintenance trainer for the F-16C Block 52 aircraft. The virtual maintenance trainer will enhance training initiatives of the aircraft while reducing training costs.
The F-16 aircraft first entered service in 1978 for the USAF and quickly evolved into a world-wide multi-role fighter aircraft. Today more than 4,500 are in service in 26 countries, and as a backbone to several defence organisations, the fast and efficient handling of the F-16 to minimise downtime is crucial for mission success. Using the latest technologies to create a virtual maintenance trainer will augment traditional training for aircraft crewmembers and helps ensure the F-16 is always mission ready.
***
Elbit Systems commissioned its newest full flight simulator (FFS) for an undisclosed Navy's SEA KING naval helicopter aircrews. Elbit will also provide maintenance and support for the FFS for seven years.
The SEA KING Helicopter FFS is a flight and tactical full flight mission simulator for naval commando airlift and anti-submarine warfare operations squadrons. It is designed for SEA KING pilots and observers including initial and periodic training as well as evaluation of new procedures and doctrines.
The 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 the cockpit of an Advanced Special Operations Helicopter.
The FFS can simulate various naval warship deck landings, emergencies and night flying with night vision goggles. It is equipped with a rear cabin crew simulator to enable joint training of pilots, system operators and crews under varying flight and operational conditions.
***
Cubic Defense Systems won a contract in excess of $10 million from the USMC to supply weapon instrumentation that will integrate into the Instrumented-Tactical Engagement Simulation System (I-TESS II).
Cubic will support the design, development, integration, ruggedised prototype, testing and effectiveness evaluation of enhancements to the squad immersive training environment (SITE) and the integration with I-TESS II.
I-TESS II is a fully integrated ground combat training system based on the company’s latest laser-based wireless instrumentation products. The system is used in military operations in urban terrain facilities and non-live fire manoeuvre ranges located at various Marine Corps bases and installations.
***
Cubic Defense Systems has won a $10 million contract with the US Army Reserves to provide its Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 3000) virtual training system, simulated weapons and services.
EST 3000 trains marksmanship, offensive and defensive collective, and “shoot-don’t shoot” judgmental firing skills. The EST 3000 is a portable system that leverages the training capabilities provided by the EST 2000 US Army-certified system. It will give the U.S. Army Reserves enhanced fundamentals of marksmanship capabilities through immediate feedback efficiency indicators (trigger pressure, pitch, cant) and 3D targets. The system uses high-fidelity, game-engine graphics that provide realism to marksmanship and collective scenarios. This overall simulation capability will allow Reserve Soldiers to increase their training effectiveness with reduced time and cost, and supports the overall Army Reserves training strategy.
***
Lockheed Martin has received a $113 million contract from the USAF to design, develop, field and sustain aircrew training devices for HH-60G PAVE HAWK search and rescue (SAR) helicopters.
Lockheed will deliver eight HH-60G training simulators, spares and logistics support to the USAF as part of the PAVE HAWK Equivalent Distributive Repeatable Operative Simulators (PEDROS) trainer programme. The simulators will be used to prepare aircrews for the full spectrum of personnel recovery, including combat search and rescue missions in multiple environments.
The HH-60G PEDROS simulator will be embedded with aircrew squadrons, giving them increased access to training and simulation scenarios, improving aircrew readiness and eliminating the need to travel to training facilities. The simulator reduces aircraft maintenance costs, saves flight hours and includes software upgrades and enhancements that increase speed and capability. It is also re-locatable to support long-term deployments.
***
3D perception introduced the next generation NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP simulator screens. 3D perception has developed a new series of NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP (glassfibre-reinforced plastic) screens.
The NORTHSTAR AURORA is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and is an excellent choice for applications with tight floor space or ceiling height requirements.
The screens are delivered with AURORA WarpSync and ChromaSync instrumentation for full integration with the NORTHSTAR ecosystem.
The first installation of the new NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP screen was recently done at Cameron's training centre in Kristiansand, Norway.
The simulator utilises a state-of-the-art 5-channel display system, complete with NORTHSTAR nBox, NORTHSTAR CompactView WUX 42 Simulation Certified Projectors, NORTHSTAR nControl control software and the new instrumented NORTHSTAR AURORA GRP screen. This display system ensures a high quality seamless image, full control during operation, and easy and efficient maintenance procedures.
***
MetaVR has built a 3D virtual representation of the southern Somalia port city of Kismayo. The high-resolution 3D terrain is populated with hundreds of geographically specific culture models built from ground-level photographs taken on the streets of Kismayo. In addition to these geolocated and photo-specific models of buildings and other structures, several hundred other buildings were modeled by matching the structural footprints visible in the imagery as geotypical models with culturally and architecturally accurate details.
The models are combined with 50 cm per-pixel Digital Globe (GeoEye-1) satellite imagery covering 1,017 sq km of the southern Somalia port city and are blended into 15-meter natural view imagery of all of Somalia with SRTM void filled elevation source data. This virtual terrain was built in MetaVR's round-earth format with MetaVR Terrain Tools for Esri ArcGIS for visualizing in the company’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG). For placing persistent cultural features on the terrain, VRSG Scenario Editor was used as part of the terrain workflow. VRSG Scenario Editor was also used to create multiple scenarios that are delivered with the terrain. The Kismayo 3D terrain and the scenarios are demonstrated at I/ITSEC in MetaVR's booth 1249.
MetaVR chose Kismayo as the location for its new virtual 3D environment because the city contains varied terrain representative of important training environments, from a built-up port to dense urban streets to a sparsely populated outer region that includes a commercial airport. This virtual terrain is an entirely self-financed venture by MetaVR.
***
Less than six months after the Brazilian Army selected MASA SWORD as its constructive simulation software to train its command staff at battalion, brigade, division and army levels, COMBATER, the Brazilian name of the customized version of SWORD, has entered into service for the first time.
At I/ITSEC, TC (Lt.Col.) Sergio Peres of the Simulation Division of the Brazilian Army's Comando de Operações Terrestres (COTER), joined representatives from MASA Group giving an exclusive overview of the country's first full-scale, next generation simulation exercise using COMBATER, powered by SWORD.
***
Parsons is exhibiting at I/ITSEC 2013. “Parsons is proud to be a participating sponsor at I/ITSEC 2013,” said Mary Ann Hopkins, Parsons Group President. “This conference will be a great opportunity for our team to exchange ideas and best practices with other leaders in the modeling, simulation, and training industry and demonstrate our capabilities in this market.”
This is the fourth consecutive year that Parsons has exhibited at I/ITSEC. The Parsons booth presents several of its programmes, including the Multi-Spectral Sea and Land Target Simulator (MSALTS), Mission Support & Training, and Special Operations Support. Parsons demonstrates expertise in threat weapons systems analysis with systems engineering and integration capabilities to produce a sea and land training program for the US military. Parsons also showcases its commercial and federal cybersecurity services, which span specialty research and product development, consultation, cyber risk and vulnerability assessments, cyber architecture roadmaps, and technology programme management.
***
At I/ITSEC 2013, Thales is showcasing their impressive range of Thales Training and Simulation solutions. Wherever people are operating in critical environments, Thales' role is to ensure they achieve and maintain the highest possible capability in the shortest possible time, using simulation-based and enhanced-live training solutions. Whether the task is to train helicopter crews, controllers of urban transport networks, submarine crews, or allied ground forces on operations, Thales' innovative solutions are enduring, adaptable, scalable and affordable.