IT²EC 2022: RUAG develops new Gladiator EXCON system

The RUAG Senator NG displayed at IT²EC in its single transit case. Note the timeline (bottom right), the video recording (top right), and the live situation display showing individual tracked personnel. (Giles Ebbutt)

RUAG has developed a small deployable version of its Senator Exercise Control (EXCON) system for its Gladiator tactical engagement simulation (TES) solution.

The company showed its Senator New Generation (NG) at IT ² EC 2022 in London on 26–28 April. The system is contained in a single transit case, which can be powered by batteries for operating independently of mains power.

Based on a laptop with a larger auxiliary screen, the system provides the functionality associated with the larger Senator EXCON installations: map or imagery based situational view with 3D terrain, video streaming, and tactical communications recording.

The core of the system is the timeline on which all events are recorded. Markers can be added for significant events, including by deployed observer/controllers, which automatically link to the appropriate situational view, video, or radio traffic. A RUAG representative told Janes that the use of artificial intelligence to identify key words in communications transmissions and automatically insert a marker on the timeline is currently under investigation.

The representative said that the system was designed for standalone company-level training in uninstrumented training areas. He explained that there were two standard data communications solutions, one relying on an open 433 MHz frequency and one on LTE. For the former the standard communication arrangement was for three 4 m antennas, each of which provides coverage of about 30 km ²