Executive Overview: Simulation and Training

The asymmetric warfare experienced in Afghanistan and Iraq has led not only to the rapid introduction of a range of new equipment to counter new threats, but also to a significant rewriting of tactical and training doctrine. The need for 'hyper-realistic' and immersive training has become paramount for those preparing to deploy, who often have little time to acclimatise to the operational environment once they arrive in theatre. Training must cover not only the 'hard' tactical threats and the use of theatre-specific tactics and equipment, but also the 'soft' culture of the 'human terrain': it is essential to understand the terrain on which one fights, while still aiming to leverage the technological advantage of overwhelming firepower when appropriate.

Air/Land Integration

Theatre-specific training and operational experience unsurprisingly continue to drive developments in ground-forces training. The importance of fire support, particularly from the air, has shown itself in improvements in training systems for forward observers.

TNO's Forward Air Controller training SIMulator (FACSIM), Fidelity Technologies Corporation's Call For Fire Trainer (CFFT), and IFAD's Forward Air Controller Training Solution (IFACTS) have all been updated. While each have had unique enhancements, such as FACSIM's ability to be linked to a Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) display, and a Head-Mounted Display for the CFFT's observer, a common strand runs through the improvements to all of the systems: the introduction of a pilot-in-the-loop.

Keeping it real

Reports made by US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Science Board (DSB) task forces recognised some of the deficiencies in US armed forces' ability to conduct Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) at the commencement of operations in Iraq in 2003.

Resultant recommendations included the provision of realistic training environments; introduction of a representative population; utilisation of an OPposition FORce (OPFOR) that has a genuine fighting capability; enhancement of instrumentation; systems for recording and analysing training scenarios; and focusing on junior and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs).

Elsewhere in the world, a number of new facilities are being established and existing facilities upgraded. The British Army opened its Afghan village complex at the Stanford Training Area in April 2009. Like many other centres developed for pre-deployment training for Afghanistan, the aim is to provide highly-immersive training.

Targeting terror

In May 2009 the US-funded King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC) was opened in Jordan. KASOTC, which is primarily intended to provide urban counter-terrorism training, is 2.5 km² and features an urban area with 56 fully-instrumented buildings. Facilities include an explosive munitions range, indoor and outdoor shooting ranges, a mock-up A300 aircraft, and a tower with sniper and observer positions, which can also be used for rappel training.

Out of aircraft, but in control

As the proliferation of UAVs has continued, simulators have become more common. The current and future importance of this sector of the industry has been further cemented by the USAF's announcement that it is to establish a dedicated UAV pilot career path.

In January, AAI began delivering its Shadow Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations (TADSS) suite to US Army Air National Guard.

The TADSS suite is designed to provide individual, collective, and crew training for operators of the RQ-7B Shadow UAV; including the air vehicle and mission payload operators, launch and recovery personnel, and mission commanders.