World News & Analysis ISSUE 5.2011 MS&T MAGAZINE
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Tactical Vehicle Training System – Cubic Defense Applications has received the first production order for its Tactical Vehicle System (TVS), used in combat training scenarios. The $13 million task order was issued by the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) under an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract awarded last year. TVS uses laser sensors mounted at strategic spots on vehicles, a control module, and other electronics to provide instant feedback to vehicle crews when laser simulated weapons score "hits" during training. Vehicles for Training – The Government of Australia has approved four major Defence capability projects, including the acquisition of more than 950 new four wheel drive vehicles, trailers and associated equipment for training purposes. This $425 million project will provide the Australian Army with a fleet of tactical vehicles and an enhanced training capability to prepare for operations in protected vehicles. Australia will take delivery of the new 'G-Wagon' four wheel drive vehicles from Mercedes Benz Australia Pacific Pty Ltd, together with around 200 modules and 830 trailers. The modules will be manufactured and integrated onto the vehicles by G. H. Varley Pty Ltd in NSW and the trailers will be sourced from Queenslandbased Haulmark Trailers (Australia). The approval is subject to successful negotiations with the respective companies.
training in manoeuvring and navigating new ships.
Navigation & Manoeuvring
Training Systems
Navy Ship Simulator – The Royal Netherlands Navy has signed a contract for a new ship simulator with CSC for delivery in 2013, and maintenance up to 2025. The new simulator is one of the most advanced on the market. Up to six teams can train simultaneously, either separately or together. The device achieves near-reality by giving a 360-degree representation of the outside world. It can also simulate many different situations which at present require on-board experience. Examples include mooring in bad weather, search and rescue missions, relieving a ship that has been overpowered by pirates, air defence and resupplying at sea. The simulator can also be programmed for
Training Management – LINE Communications has delivered a class leading Training Management Information System (TMIS) for VT Flagship. The Astute TMIS integrates all the major functions of VT's training facility for the Astute Class submarine fleet in Faslane, Scotland. VT provides the service under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for the Royal Navy and the system utilises custom off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The solution is a high integrity system for the dispersed parties who book, design, deliver and manage reporting data. Over the past nine months, the LINE team have been designing, configuring, integrating and testing TMIS and gained RN approval for the system at the end of
LVC Connectivity Trial - A P-3 Orion simulator connected virtually to an SH-60B Seahawk trainer for the first time during a "peer-to-peer connectivity" trial at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), Kaneohe Bay. Using its own simulation mode, the P-3's tactical operational readiness trainer, also known as TORT, successfully linked with an SH-60B tactical operational flight trainer, or TOFT, in a synthetic environment. Referred to as "peer-to-peer connectivity," this virtual linkage eliminates the need for a third party to facilitate the connection or act as a conduit. During the test, P-3 aircrews communicated via the TORT with SH-60B aviators operating their TOFT. Through the TORT, the P-3 crew observed the SH-60B pilots maneuver the helicopter, deploy buoys and launch multiple missiles in the synthetic environment. The P-3 operators also checked acoustic and radar signals during the training session. Within the next six months, the TORT and TOFT will participate in a simulated training event with a single Navy ship. Once both systems have successfully completed training with one ship, they will participate in a full-scale Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) event involving multiple ships, submarines and aircraft FST events provide real world mission rehearsal in a synthetic environment.
June. LINE has since been completing the handover of the project to the client and will continue to support it through the LINE Support Team based in Sheffield. Blended Learning – Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) has announced recent contract awards associated with supporting the National Guard’s Professional Education Center (PEC). The training center contracted ECS to augment its blended learning portfolio by leveraging the Guard-based Nexus virtual environment. Specifically, ECS is developing an Ammunition Supply Point Course. The use of the Nexus virtual environment enables students to learn within the classroom and immerse themselves into a contextually relevant environment.
Maintenance Training 3D Interactive Maintenance Training – Thales UK has successfully completed a contract to provide interactive 3D media for training the engineers who maintain the long-range radar (LRR) on the Royal Navy (RN) Type 45 destroyers. This project, under contract with BAE Systems Insyte, has provided SCORM conformant, web-enabled, 3D training media for the use of Type 45 maintainer trainers. It has been designed to allow maintenance training to be done as either instructor-led, computer-aided instruction or self-paced, computerbased training. In both modes the maintainer can interact with photo-realistic, animated 3D models of cabinets and equipment to work through sequences of learning that cover start-up/shut-down, remove/install and fault finding.
Training Ranges Combat Training Center – Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has won a prime contract by the US Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to build the Egyptian Armed Forces Combat Training Center (AFCTC) No. 3 for the Training Authority of the Egyptian Armed Forces in Cairo, Egypt. The single-award contract has a three-year period of performance and a total value of more than $46 million. SAIC will design and build a fixed and mobile AFCTC for the Egyptian