Training Readiness Enablers

Written by Marty Kauchak

SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 (March)

The SOF community uses an ever-expanding list of technology systems to help achieve and maintain training readiness levels across its mission portfolio.

Significant system upgrades and new products are scheduled for delivery to the components through fiscal year 2011. These capabilities will allow SOF operators to learn and refresh mission skills more effectively.

PREPARING MORE EFFICIENT JTACS

The U.S. DoD is seeking to reduce friendly fire and non-combatant deaths during air-to-ground missions and other joint fires scenarios in the Afghanistan and Iraq theaters. One solution to address this operational readiness problem is to provide more rigorous and higher-fidelity training for joint terminal air controllers (JTACs) and other members of the joint fires team.

MARSOC is using two technology solutions to bolster its JTACs’ skillsets and training readiness, Major Michael Armistead, command spokesperson, told SOTECH.

Two simulators used by MARSOC for fires mission training are the DVTE (Deployable Virtual Training Environment), which is a Marine Corps sources simulator, and the JFPL (Joint Fires Product Line).

“The DVTE has been in use at MARSOC for at least a year to train JTACs within the Marine Special Operations Support Group and our Marine Special Operations Battalions,” noted Armistead. He added, “It is currently used as a means for JTACs to maintain their certifications.”

Lockheed Martin Training, Simulation and Support is the DVTE prime contractor.

JFPL is a product line architecture that integrates software modules used to create simulation and training environments for training SOF personnel in the joint fires arena, including indirect fire missions, close air support missions and naval surface fire support missions.

MARSOC also uses the JFPL to train JTACs, and it was the first component to field the system nearly 10 months ago. Though not currently being utilized to maintain certification currency, there is a plan to upgrade the system to a new facility to permit the incorporation of additional attachments to improve its training capabilities. Nova Technologies is responsible for maintaining and upgrading the JFPL suite of tools.

MetaVR is part of an industry team also attempting to help eliminate fratricide and other unintended incidents during joint fires missions. At the 2009 InterService/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, MetaVR and partners Immersive Display Solutions and Scalable Display Technologies, unveiled a new JTAC MiniDome system. The JTAC MiniDome provides 220 degrees (horizontal) and 90 degrees (vertical) fields of view in a small form factor, transportable, hemispheric display of simulated geospecific real-time, 3-D terrain.

Prospective JTACs can train in the MiniDome in a networked environment with A-10s, F-16s, UAVs, and other JTAC simulators all using MetaVR correlated 3-D terrain.

The JTAC MiniDome is a version of the Mesa AFRL Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training Rehearsal System.

The relatively affordable published cost in the product brochure provided to SOTECH during a system demonstration at the conference was $220,000. MetaVR’s customers for the JTAC MiniDome include U.S. Air Force Active and Reserve components’ units.

POLICY DIRECTION

Significant technology-related activities in the SOF mission portfolio are occurring in aviation programs. The SOF aviation community’s focus on training technology enablers is being driven by senior leadership policy direction as well as readiness requirements.

One insight may be gleaned from AFSOC commander Lieutenant General Donald Wurster’s description of his component’s expectations for technology in his approved, command-wide, “Training System Roadmap.” This 2008 document contains the following training system vision statement:

“Accomplish as much of our training requirements, as appropriate, on training systems vs. aircraft/operational assets because we are by definition a low density/high demand force. We must use training systems as a force multiplier so we can meet more of our high demand requirements.”

To support the commander’s direction and the component’s training readiness requirements, every aviation weapons system in the AFSOC inventory is supported by some form of training device. “They can be as simple as a laptop ‘video game’ flight simulation, to a highlevel architecture, full-motion weapon system trainer on par with FAA commercial standards,” explained Larry Allen, acting chief, training systems requirements, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command.

Dramatic advancements in networking, visual display systems and other system attributes increase flight training scenarios’ fidelity. These enhancements encourage SOF aviation units to upgrade existing systems and provide a compelling reason to increase the number of new systems.

AFSOC technology systems provide the ability to train and rehearse unit and individual tasks virtually in any environment worldwide. AFSOC’s Allen pointed out, “Manned and unmanned air and ground personnel must be able to train together in all of AFSOC’s combat missions in a linked, simulated environment. The training system should be realistic enough that personnel can legitimately substitute live events for those in the simulator.”

A TRAINING ENABLER FOR SMALL UASS

AFSOC’s requirement for unmanned air systems (UAS) personnel to train with other operators is part of a broader, insatiable demand for these systems across the department’s components—driving the need for skilled and operationally ready operators. AFSOC meets these requirements, in part, by using 20 RavenView Small UAS tactical simulators delivered in 2009 by SDS International Inc. at the command’s first SUAS formal training unit (FTU) at Hurlburt Field. Todd Haley, SDS spokesperson, noted the “RavenView SUAS simulator is an essential part of the FTU core curriculum and provides an effective means to developing and qualifying new Raven, WASP and Puma SUAS operators.”

RavenView fills another critical need in the training continuum— beyond providing an operator the ability to learn how to fly the aircraft. The system also enables SOF warfighters to virtually learn and then hone their skill sets for operating SUASs in a combat situation. “That is where a product like RavenView fits in,” Haley said, and continued, “RavenView goes beyond the ability to just experience the ‘switchology’ and how to fly the SUAS by allowing the user to employ the system in a realistic and dynamic environment accurate enough to allow them to log their simulator flight hours for currency training.”

With RavenView firmly established as one program technology enabler, AFSOC SUAS training audiences will see a number of system upgrades this year. “In 2010 we plan to introduce new RavenView capabilities such as the Raven B IR marker, single hand controller interface, improved sensor simulation, new RPUAV Falcon View toolbar, improved flight modeling and an improved scenario authoring capability,” noted Haley.

SDS also plans to deliver a version of RavenView that will be interoperable with and able to be networked to the Indirect Fire- Forward Air Control Trainer (I-FACT) Joint Terminal Attack Control training system. Haley pointed out, “This capability will allow JTACs to include an SUAS into their virtual training exercise. It will allow them to connect RavenView to the I-FACT and use the virtual SUAS to locate and identify targets, mark targets, observe the target during Type I or Type II close air support controls and conduct real-time battle damage assessment in the simulated environment.”

OTHER AFSOC DELIVERIES AND UPGRADES

A number of other significant activities are occurring across AFSOC’s portfolio through fiscal year 2011. The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command and AFSOC have a requirement for HC/MC-130J aircraft to replace their existing C-130 aircraft.

The first training requirement for the new weapons platform being filled is the weapon systems trainer (WST). The device is being designed to train the AFSOC flight deck crewmembers (five in total) including pilot, copilot, loadmaster, combat systems officer and auxiliary crew member. “Future HC-130J and MC-130J aircraft will include a two seat CSO/aux crew member station and the first HC/MC-130J WST will be able to support these crew positions as the mission tasking for these crew members evolves,” Chris Stellwag, CAE spokesperson, told.

One of the innovative HC/MC-130J WST subcomponents is a CAE true electric motion system. Stellwag added, “The system will be on an extended base frame to support the training of five crew members and three instructors on the motion base.”

Significant design work will allow the use of an electric motion system instead of a hydraulic counterpart. Stellwag continued, “The base frame, cockpit structures and visual display structures have all been redesigned to reduce the weight of the HC/MC-130J WST so that an electric motion system can be used.”

The HC/MC-130J WST will also feature an aerial refueling simulation including manipulation of the universal air refueling receptacle slipway installation door.

Other planned activities in the AFSOC aviation training systems’ portfolio include: AT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M

MQ-1/MQ-9 Predator mission aircrew training system (upgrade): software upgrade allows Predator and Reaper training to be conducted on same device;

Visual threat recognition avoidance trainer (additional device): allows aircrew to practice and gain proficiency in tactical threat calls before combat deployment;

Dragon Spear precision strike package (new capability): a modular, scalable, precision strike capable system which includes a standoff precision guided munition system and a medium caliber gun;

MC-130W WST (new capability): full motion, high-fidelity aircrew trainer for tactical mobility and/or PSP missions;

MC-130W fuselage trainer (new capability): refurbished C-130 fuselage which replicates the interior of the MC-130W. Used by aircrew, maintenance and special tactics personnel and first responders;

CV-22 flight training device (additional device): non-motion with visuals, high-fidelity aircrew trainer for pilot and flight engineer mission qualification.

AT HURLBURT FIELD, FLA

C-130J cockpit avionics procedure trainer (new capability): nonmotion, non-visual aircrew/maintenance trainer which will enhance AFSOC’s MC-130J conversion training;

MC-130 fuselage trainer (new capability): refurbished C-130 fuselage which can replicate the interior of MC-130E/H/P aircraft. Used by aircrew, maintenance and special tactics personnel and first responders;

AC-130U sensor part task trainer (new capability): this modular “desktop” device will enhance gunship sensor operator training and increase sensor operator production capability.

160TH SOAR (A) DEVELOPMENTS

Army SOF aviators will also benefit from more capable training systems.

CAE USA is performing upgrades to the MH-60L Black Hawk and MH-47G Chinook combat mission simulators operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment – Airborne. As part of the Special Operations Forces Aviation Training and Rehearsal Systems program, CAE is converting the MH-60L simulator to the newest variant of the Black Hawk helicopter called the MH-60M, which features improved performance and upgraded mission management and navigation systems. Stellwag said that his team is updating the MH-47G combat mission simulator with aircraft survivability equipment and other new functionalities. “In addition, CAE is upgrading both the MH-60 and MH-47G simulators to the latest version of the Rockwell Collins common avionics architecture system to ensure concurrency with the aircraft,” he added. ♦

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