Simulators Prepare Forces for Effective Deployment with the Latest Equipment

Home , Armoured reconnaissance, Royal Armoured Corps

Simulators prepare forces for effective deployment with the latest equipment

• BY DAVID OLIVER

owever much military budgets are overstretched, squeezed and re Hallocated throughout the financial year, more diverse and complex weapons systems are acquired and deployed. And for every piece of new equipment destined for the armed forces, from snip ers' rifles to main battle tanks (MBTs), a training package has to be designed and delivered. With many nations, including Australia, Canada, the UK, the US and recently Israel, at war on more than one front, the importance of effective simula tion and training programmes and systems cannot be overestimated. The US Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD P&R) has been tasked with leading a collaborative effort to harness the power of information technologies to modernise structured learning. Through the sponsor ship of the OUSD P&R, the creation of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative was formed as a developer and implementer of learning technologies across the US Department of Defense (DoD). ADL employs a structured, adap- I Operational experience has led US forces to introduce region-specific 'hearts and minds' training tools. tive, collaborative effort between the public and private sectors to develop Dan Garner, the Director of Readiness forces, and will also include non-govern the standards, tools and content for the and Training, is responsible for the Train ment organisations," he says. "Australia learning environment of the future. The ing and Transformation ([2) programme, will be the first to be integrated into the vision of the ADL Initiative is to provide and developing DoD polices that will DoD T2 programme." access to the highest-quality learning and involve NATO and Partnership for Peace performance aids that can be tailored to CPfP) training. "This will involve a change individual needs and delivered cost-effec in vision and will rely on in-theatre infor Virtual battlefield tively, anytime and anywhere. mation and feedback from multinational By mid-2007, Australia plans to tap into the US Joint National Training Center CJNTC) I Engenuity's in Virginia via a newly created Joint AI.implant soft ware is used by Combined Training Centre (JCTC) to be US forces for established near Sydney. This will prOVide urban warfare the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with and peace sup a network of state-of-the-art facilities that port operations will enable Australian and US forces to training. undertake joint training supported by simulation that can be updated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Australian JCTC effort is intended to increase operational capability, combat readiness and interoperability between the US and Australia, and encourages integration of live, virtual and construc tive (LVC) training technologies. It will enable the ADF to integrate its laser-based instrumented training system for infantry and armour forces, LAND-134, being sup plied by Cubic New Zealand, with other simulation systems, including the Cubic Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system. The success of the JCTC is seen as a vital tool that will better prepare

JANE'S INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE REVIEW MAY 2007. idr.janes.com 59 TECHNOLOGY REPORT - SIMULATION - LAND

Australian forces should they be called crowds. Several products are addressing MPRI, an L-3 Communications company, upon to take part in any future exercises this sector of the artificial training market. has launched a driver training simulator with the US. It will include a concept vali Engenuity Technologies Inc, a Canadian for the heavily armoured M1l14 High dation event at Exercise 'Talisman Sabre' provider of solutions for the development Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle scheduled for June 2007 or be part of a of visualisation and simulation applications (HMMWV). The simulator would allow multinational force deployment. recently acquired by CAE, announced soldiers to practise rollover avoidance that Science Applications International techniques and incline-decline driv- Corporation (SAIC) in conjunction with the ing skills. It has a three-channel plasma Social dynamics US Army's Program Executive Office for screen with visuals, force-loaded steering Many armed forces' military training pro Simulation, Training and Instrumentation and a SimCommander feature that allows grammes are dominated by operations in (PEO STRI), and US Joint Forces Command instructors to control training via a dash Iraq and Afghanistan, and more recently (USJFCOM), has combined Engenuity's mounted touchscreen display. by a renewed Middle East crisis prompted ALimplant with OneSAF (One Semi-Auto The company has also launched a train by Israel's operations in response to raids mated Forces) to bring enhanced realism er it calls the Virtual Warrior Interactive on its territory from Lebanon and Gaza. and efficiency to military simulations. (VWI) that allows dismounted soldiers to For the troops on the ground, the Originally developed as a powerful gam learn how to interact with convoys, tanks, subject of winning 'hearts and minds' is ing technology, AI.implant makes it easy armoured vehicles and helicopters on a belatedly being addressed by the train for users to create and control all enti- virtual battlefield. The VWl provides a ing sector. The US Strategic Command's ties in any complex simulation. Through 360· view of terrain in cities such as Bagh Joint Information Operations Center its ability to accurately simulate crowd dad, Tikrit, Samarra and Kabul. It includes (JIOC) not only trains combat command and vehicle behaviour, it is especially weapons effects and real-world scenarios. ers in military deception and psycho suited for urban training and simulation Raydon has also started a programme logical operations, but also in Middle projects requiring realistic and dynamic that opens up its range of trainers, includ Eastern culture. environments for urban warfare training. ing the VWI, its three configurations of the mobile Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer, I CAE is providing and the helicopter Virtual Door Gunner the British Army with Warrior IFV Gunnery Trainer. The company's Convoy Train- Turret Trainers. ing Services/Rental programme includes delivery and removal of trainers to chosen sites, an on-site training specialist, mainte nance and spare parts, and upgrades.

Tailored training The combat vehicle platforms simulator answers the need for enhanced training tailored to a specific platform. Based on datalink technologies, Elbit Sys tems Appended Tank and ACV Crew Trainer (ATCT) is a field-deploy able compact mobile tank combat training system. Unked to an actual combat-ready tank, it provides the ultimate real-life training and simulation setting. The combat vehicle platforms simulator generates a comprehensive virtual environment for training to get as close to reality as possible. Tailored to individual needs, the system provides the flexibility to generate realistic performance The LINE Communications Group, a UK AI.implant offers 3-D entities capable of of various types of sensors, weapons and provider of e-Iearning and communications non-doctrinal, complex and unpredict systems. The simulator allows for both fight solutions, has been commissioned by the able behaviour. The ability to produce ing equipment and tactical options to be UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) Director- scalable, behaViourally realistic crowds is trained separately or in a combined fashion. ate of Individual Training (Army) Training an essential enhancement when creating It is available in three possible forms: by Advisory Group to develop courseware on simulations for Joint Urban Opefiltions a stationary unit; a mock-up or a mobile raising cultural awareness for UK personnel (JUO) scenarios. SAle's integration of the unit; or appended to the combat vehicle serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through a AI.implant technology brings real-world transforming it into a simulator. series of highly interactive, visually realistic crowds, riots and panicking to the simu Rheinmetall Defence Electronics (ROE) scenarios, the courseware will provide lated environment as a means of better has received two orders from Switzerland an understanding of how the actions of preparing troops for engagements for its electronic gunnery training system service personnel will be interpreted by in conflict zones. (ELSA) as well as system extensions for its ordinary citizens in the host nations. The emphasis for coalition forces artillery simulation technology. ELSA will be It is recognised that crowd behaviour is a operating in Iraq and Afghanistan has re employed for training infantry fighting vehi part of modern warfare that has been large mained on convoy training. Much use has cle (IFY) and armoured artillery command ly neglected, but with future troop engage been made of synthetic training ranging vehicle crews, as well as for teaching troops ments expected to involve smaller forces in from the PC action game 'American Army' to operate target acquisition and observa urban settings, military officials are realising to Lockheed Martin's top-of-the-range Vir tion equipment used by the Swiss Army's the need to train soldiers in handling hostile tual Combat Convoy Trainer (VCCT). Artillery Corps. The series scope of delivery

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includes a system with eight vehicle mock Stabilised turret firing on the move is on cables and a laptop PC for interfacing ups of the CV9030 IFV as well as another an important feature included on many of with systems such as engine management with four mock-ups of the armoured artillery the trainers. Also, where multiple trainers The solution to be delivered includes a command vehicle, plus target acquisition have been procured, students may train tablet PC with a wireless network connec and observation equipment individually as a commander or gunner, tion, which enables instructors to move Switzerland's own leading training as a full crew or multiple crews for collec around the training area freely while still systems manufacturer RUAG has supplied tive troop/platoon training. being able to monitor and interact with its Advanced Driver Training Simulator The UK MoD has also adopted an student activities. A 3-D representation of (A-DTS) to the Swiss Army, designed as an integrated training programme that Royal the vehicles will be displayed on a Student economical solution for basic and efficient Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Viewing Panel to enable the students to operation and procedure training. Real (REME) electrical and vehicle mechanic visualise events that are relevant to their istic simulation of all vehicle operations, technicians can use to practise electrical diagnostic procedures, for example the along with the appropriate audio cues, diagnostic skills in a safe and supportive correct response of the excavator arm facilitate familiarisation with the interior training environment. on TROJAN. In addition to the built-in environment, the correct operation of the The new TITAN armoured bridge-layer synthetic faults, which the instructor can driver's controls and indication displays, and TROJAN armoured vehicles are based activate during diagnostic training sessions, and malfunction management in various there is a facility whereby the instructors simulated situations. can create their own synthetic faults. This is performed using the system's Fault Defi nition Editor (FDE) that allows instructors Instructor input to create certain types of faults, for example The A-DTS, which comes with a six-axis broken switches, blown lamps and broken electro-mechanical motion system that pins. This greatly enhances the flexibility of works in conjunction with the 3-D visual the system and provides a rigorous testing system and professional sound equip mechanism for the students. ment, enables drivers of tracked and BAE Systems launched a new high-tech wheeled vehicles to perform complete nology training system earlier in 2007 to de training tasks in a realistic environment. liver enhanced armoured vehicle crew train Its instructor operating station (lOS) ing in support of British Army engineering enables the instructor to create, control operations. The TERRIER programme for a and assess exercises and carry out after minimum of 60 vehicles, valued at GBP300 action reviews (AAR). A 2-D map shOWing million, will provide the Royal Engineers the actual traffic situation, the vehicle with an agile, capable and air-transportable status display plus a slave view showing general support engineer vehicle with a the student's 3-D view and the vehicle's wide variety of early entry, combat support, rear-view mirrors can be acquired on the post conflict and disaster relief roles. lOS' five screens. The TERRIER vehicle training system Proper use of the radio equipment will be the first simulator to provide train through to tactical training in a networked ing using synthetic digging with motion communication system are the training feedback, delivering a comprehensive, objectives of the PC-based voice communi cost-effective and environmentally friend cation system, which can be used for radio I The British Anny's Royal Engineers will be using BAE ly approach to training. BAE Systems and intercom simulation. The simulation Systems' TERRIER vehicle training system for its new was awarded a contract at the beginning also includes battlefield noise and transmis fleet of general support engineering vehicle. of 2006 to provide two TERRIER training sion characteristics. Among the 20 wheeled . systems worth about GBPlO million. and tracked vehicles that can be simulated This will comprise four mission crew on the A-DTS system are the BMP-3, G6, on the Challenger 2 MBT chassis and wi!! trainers with motion platform featuring an M-109, TATRA truck and HMMWV. be used by the Royal Engineers to provide embedded remote control trainer and a In the UK, CAE has been awarded a added mobility to the MBT fleet. classroom set of PC-based maintainer train GBP6 million (USD11.8 million) contract to For both TITAN and TROJAN, VEGA ers. The operational benefits for the Royal provide the British Army with 36 Warrior is' developing an Electronic Diagnostic Engineers include the ability to train for Infantry Fighting Vehicle Gunnery Turret Trainer (EDn based on its well-estab driving, digging and maintenance in different Trainers. Four trainers will be delivered to lished emulation infrastructure technolo environments, which was previously only the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery gy. These emulations will be used to drive available through overseas deployment School in Lulworth in southern England a conventional desktop EDT covering both early in 2007, while the other 32 will be variants and will also interface to full-size delivered later in the year to British Army physical models of the interior of each Urban warfare armoured infantry units deployed across vehicle that consist of the relevant equip The system, due to enter service in 2008, the UK and Germany. The devices will be ment situated in representative locations provides increased flexibility through the network-enabled for platoon training. within a wire-mesh framework. simulation of operations on sand, gravel, CAE has previously delivered a range VEGA has again collaborated with mud and at any time of the day or night, at of Armoured Reconnaissance, Armoured specialist model makers EDM to construct the click of a mouse. The training system Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) and MBT the physical models. The interface will be will be developed by BAE Systems at its trainers, including Scorpion 76/90, M57, based on an industrial Programmable Logic facilities in Edinburgh, Scotland and will Warrior and Leopard 2. These trainers Controller (PLC) fed by a series of scanning eventually be located for operational train feature high fidelity sighting systems units that will monitor about 2,000 active ing at the Royal Armoured Corps Centre in including magnification, thermal and pins within the various connectors that are Bovington, Dorset. image intensified sights and vision modelled. Test-sets include a digital multi It has been predicted that 75 per cent blocks, and full spatial representation of meter for probing connector pins, a meg. of the world's population will live in large all crew positions. ohmeter for testing the quality of insulation urban areas by 2010. It has also become obvi-

62 JANE'S INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE REVIEW. MAY 2007 • idr.janes.com TECHNOLOGY REPORT - SIMULATION - LAND ous that cities are the most likely battlefields I Finnish soldiers in the 21st century and several large state-of training at the the-art combat training centres specialising in Pori Brigade'S mobile operations in urban terrain (MaUl) Combat Training Centre using are coming on stream in Europe. Saab person- The Dutch village of Marnehuizen, which nel detection opened in 2002, is the largest purpose-built devices for hit MOUT training facility in Europe. Located scoring. in the northern Netherlands, the village is within a 1,500-hectare training area and has 120 permanent buildings ranging from shops and houses to apartment blocks and civic buildings. Extensively used by NATO forces, the village is currently equipped with the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems (MILES) outfit for simulation train ing. Saab Training Systems has also provided equipment for an urban company of oppos ing forces (OPFOR), which includes some 200 personnel detection devices (POD), a lightweight instrumented man-worn system with sensors attached to the helmet and vest training, with small-arms, artillery and fixed The centre's advanced training systems that react to direct fire, laser weapon systems wing and helicopter support include computer-based simulators for from instrumented armoured vehicles/tanks, drivers, Video-based turret trainers and ATWs and instrumented buildings. an indoor laser-range for gunners - all Located 140 km north of Oslo, the Norwe Classroom combat located in one central building - while gian Army Combat Manoeuvre Training Cen The NACMTC's mission is to train Nor an advanced outdoor laser-range, a tre (NACMTC) was opened at Camp Rena in wegian Army units according to doctrine combined combat simulator (CCS), and 2004. The centre has fully instrumented live tactics/combat drills, including mission a staff and command trainer (SCT) for firing and training areas with its own MOUT oriented training; conduct staff training up unit training are located at the nearby village, airfield and cross-river operations. to brigade level; train handling of the ma Combat Training Centre (CTC). All the These facilities offer realistic training with jor weapons systems, including the formal systems' technical support is outsourced live firing from all types of weapons systems, certification of armoured vehicle drivers to industry: the CCS to Kongsberg and advanced manoeuvre training and joint and commanders. the SCT to CAE.

UAG Aerospace Defence Technology

Combat Training does not end at the city limits!

Armed Forces can be prepared even more efficiently for deployment in urban terrain with RUAG's Combat Training Systems for MOUl

It ensures the interaction of all weapons and r buildings used in a MOUT environment. The integrated positional tracking system is inde pendent of GPS which allows combat inside buildings to be monitored and recorded.

RUAG Electronics RUAG COEL GmbH Simulation & Training· P.O. Box· CH-3000 Bern 22 . Switzerland p.o. Box 1447 . DE-22880 Wedel· Germany Tel. +41 313766600· [email protected]· www.ruag.com Tel. +49 4103 9395-0 . [email protected] . www.coel.de

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