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https://inveristraining.com/.
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29 Nov 21. InVeris Training Solutions, the leading provider of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training systems for military, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting ranges, today unveils SRCE™ (See, Rehearse, Collectively Experience or “Source”), a groundbreaking, augmented reality-based, untethered weapons training simulator. InVeris Training Solutions provides the most advanced augmented reality technology available in a military and law enforcement training simulator, a feat previously thought to be years away by many in the industry.
“Augmented reality delivers the best of the virtual and real worlds in a way that’s fully lifelike, seamless, customizable and economical,” said InVeris CEO Al Weggeman. “Physical training facilities can be scanned and augmented to become instant shoot houses by integrating outside content in just minutes. More importantly, we can compare and measure individual and team performance with high precision real-time location tracking of every participant, weapon and even ammunition round.”
Critical, use-of-force training can now occur at the point of need or anywhere in the world. This never-experienced complete immersive technology delivers a way to see, rehearse and collectively experience techniques, tactics and procedures with real-time location, movement, orientation and biometric sensing for training and operations. SRCE’s proprietary scanning technology allows an instructor to capture the space intended for use as a shoot house using a tablet or other device with a high-resolution camera. Hostile forces, suspects, decoys, hostages, and other parties are all delivered digitally, eliminating the need for opposition role players. SRCE’s ability to create a virtual shoot house on the fly lends to active shooter and mission rehearsal training. Wearable, untethered technology, including an AR head-mounted display, provides realistic immersion without compromising freedom of movement and is fully compatible with InVeris’ highly accurate BlueFire® simulated weapons.
The unparalleled interactive after-action review (AAR) collects performance data for statistical analysis of never-before-available parameters, including muzzle direction, weapon discharge, missed rounds, eye tracking and head placement. Body sensors monitor a trainee’s heart rate, breathing, gaze and other biological signs in real-time. Trainees can even walk through their previous session, seeing every element played back around them as a visualization to review operational performance. This highly immersive AAR creates the optimal opportunity for instructors to increase training fidelity and retention. For more information on SRCE, visit https://www.inveristraining.com/srce.
30 Nov 21. Taiwan receives first-production T-5 advanced trainer. On 28 November the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) received the first mass-produced Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation’s (AIDC’s) T-5 Yung Yin (‘Brave Eagle’) advanced jet trainer (AJT)/light fighter aircraft. According to a Facebook post on the RoCAF’s official account, the twin-engine aircraft took off from the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung, where AIDC’s facilities are located, at 9:00 am local time and landed at Zhihang Air Base in Taitung, where a formal handover ceremony was held, at 10:35 am. The T-5, with serial number ‘11003’, is the first-production aircraft and the third one to be handed over to the RoCAF. The fourth aircraft – the second-production unit – is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021, according to a report presented in September by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense to the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan’s Parliament). These two aircraft will be used for additional testing by the RoCAF. (Source: Janes)
01 Dec 21. With T-7 on the way, why is ACC eyeing a new trainer? The USAF is considering a new trainer aircraft — one intended to emulate 4th and 5th generation fighter jets and be able to better train the service’s newest fighter pilots how to fly in combat.
Nope, not the T-7A Red Hawk. Another one. Maybe. The Air Force released a request for information for a new trainer aircraft, dubbed the Advanced Tactical Trainer, on Oct. 12. But given the service has the first T-7s on the way, scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas in 2023, the service’s apparent interest in another — similar — trainer left some observers scratching their heads.
Dan Grazier of the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight said the Air Force’s consideration of another trainer aircraft raises questions about its strategy and priorities — and perhaps about the T-7.
“This does seem like a really curious move,” Grazier said in a Nov. 29 interview. “There’s a couple of things that this move communicates that I think the Air Force didn’t really mean to communicate.”
In 2018, the Air Force awarded a $9.2bn contract to Boeing to build 351 of the Air Force’s next trainer, unveiled as the T-7A Red Hawk the following year. Its use of digital engineering, open architecture, and other innovative design techniques excited many service leaders, and was seen as a new model for rapid, efficient aircraft development.
In a statement, Boeing said it’s interested in exploring what ACC wants to see in an advanced trainer and stressed the capability of the T-7 to evolve and meet the command’s needs.
“From its digital beginnings, the T-7 was designed for growth,” Boeing said. “This exciting opportunity is being explored to see how the T-7′s growth path for future missions align with Air Combat Command’s ATT initiative.”
The T-7 is intended to replace the T-38 jet trainer, which dates back to the 1960s and has been at the center of several fatal crashes in recent years — the most recent on Nov. 19. The Air Force’s newest 5th generation fighters, the F-22 and F-35, are also far beyond the T-38′s capabilities.
“Every day, that [T-38] airplane becomes just another step more disconnected from the advanced avionics, advanced sensing, the advanced processing that our modern fighters have, and so we can’t fill that void fast enough,” Air Combat Command head Gen. Mark Kelly said in an Oct. 25 event with the Mitchell Institute.
Kelly said the T-7 is already slated to go to Air Education and Training Command to teach the service’s youngest aviators how to fly.
“But I need to get our [ACC] aviators, as soon as I can, something that is not such a leap from a 1964 T-38 to a 2021 F-35,” Kelly said.
Kelly acknowledged the T-7 may be able to do everything ACC needs it to do, and the answer could be buying more of them. But he also said industry may be able to offer some new ideas that could either be added to the T-7, or lead to a completely new air frame.
He added that ACC needs additional features in the aircraft it uses to conduct fighter pilot training — features the T-7 was never required to have.
Kelly said those features could include increased use of sensors, and increased fuel requirements for mission duration and afterburner use. And he expects it could have some rudimentary weapons computing capability and some simulation playback capabilities to teach pilots how to respond to threats.
“All of those drive requirements that weren’t in the original T-7 statement of requirements,” Kelly said. “And so it’s not a criticism of the T-7 — they built what they were designed to build. But it may or may not fit the demand of going from flying to fighting, because they’re a different avenue. They just happen to take place in the same space.”
Air Combat Command declined an interview request from Defense News, but said in written responses to questions that this proposed trainer’s requirements would differ from the T-7 and help ACC “most effectively and efficiently train fighter pilots.” (Source: Defense News)
01 Dec 21. Lockheed unveils pared-down F-35 trainer with same software capability but a 90% reduced footprint. Lockheed Martin has developed an F-35 trainer with less hardware that could see the U.S. and partner countries expand their training capacity for less cost. The company unveiled the F-35 Mission Rehearsal Trainer Lightning Integrated Training Environment, or MRT LITE, simulator at the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference. The reveal follows about 18 months of development and demonstrations with F-35 program customers, Erik Etz, senior manager of new business, strategy and road maps, told reporters Nov. 30.
Etz said the F-35 Full Mission Simulator, which is set up in a dome with 360-degree visuals for a full cockpit experience, is the most widely used F-35 training system, with more than 100 trainers delivered across the globe.
MRT LITE runs the same software in a pared-down footprint — 90% less hardware, the company noted, with eight MRT LITEs fitting within the allotted space of a full mission simulator.
The LITE version has three screens for forward-looking views only, “but there’s a need for more capacity at a number of those [global training] sites. So based on that need, we decided to go ahead and embark some internal investments to shrink the footprint associated with the full-mission sim and created a device, a family of devices, that will provide capacity at fixed sites,” Etz said.
In addition to the reduced views, the smaller version excludes some switches and other interfaces needed for emergency-only procedures, among other changes. But Etz, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, said the trainer covers 75% of the F-35 mission set, including all the beyond-visual-range tasks at the heart of fifth-generation fighter missions.
“Basically, our customers are asking for something portable, something affordable and something that’s got a smaller footprint. So this option really supplies that to them, all of it,” Raashi Quattlebaum, vice president of F-35 training and logistics, told reporters during the briefing.
She added that the trainer was designed based on customers’ requirements and needs, and that Lockheed doesn’t expect to have to do much convincing when it comes time to sell the trainer to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as international customers of the jet.
Etz said the trainer is fully modular and can be broken down and reassembled within hours, contributing to customers’ portable requirement. He envisions this trainer not only supplementing the full dome trainers at established sites but also being set up in trailers at ports and airfields on demand, or even being set up on aircraft carriers for training during deployments.
The company wouldn’t comment on the cost of the system, nor would it detail the timeline for completing development and beginning to get contracts signed, but Etz said he hopes to wrap up final development soon. The system is already running all the unclassified software but needs additional integration to run the classified software.
He added that a customer could buy “a number of these” for the cost of one original MRT, and that Lockheed is talking to the F-35 Joint Program Office and customers about getting these smaller trainers on contract quickly, whether through a new contract or a modification to existing F-35 deals. (Source: Defense News)
30 Nov 21. CAE Launches New CAE Prodigy Image Generator.
- CAE Prodigy IG renders incredibly immersive and realistic virtual environments
- CAE Prodigy IG leverages Unreal Engine games technology
Today at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world’s largest military training and simulation event, CAE announced the launch of its new CAE Prodigy image generator (IG).
The CAE Prodigy IG leverages Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, a state-of-the-art gaming engine that delivers high-fidelity graphics, physics-based simulation, and the ability to support a thousand-fold increase in the number of entities in a virtual environment.
During I/ITSEC, CAE (Booth #1734) will be demonstrating the new CAE Prodigy IG as part of the CAE e-Series MR Prodigy Visual System, a comprehensive visual solution combining the image generator, projectors and dome display into an integrated training system designed specifically for fighter and fast-jet training applications.
“CAE is continually investing in bringing digitally immersive training solutions to market that enable the creation of high-fidelity, ultra-realistic virtual worlds,” said Dan Gelston, Group President, Defense & Security, CAE. “Our new Prodigy image generator builds on CAE’s longstanding commitment to driving industry standards as well as our experience and expertise in leveraging technologies to meet the specific needs of our military customers for simulation-based training.”
The CAE Prodigy IG builds on the proven features of CAE’s existing family of image generators and includes full support for the Open Geospatial Consortium Common Database (OGC CDB). Some of the key features and capabilities of the new CAE Prodigy IG include:
- Unreal Engine generates extremely realistic virtual environments including increased support for high scene density, enhanced lighting and special effects;
- Scalable quantities of entities and lifeforms to realistically populate virtual environments;
- Support for artificial intelligence to deliver a thousand-fold increase in realistic scene content;
- Leverages commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and software in a smaller footprint, thus delivering more affordable total cost of ownership;
- Support for industry standards, including Windows 10, OpenGL, Open Flight, and OGC CDB;
- Compatible with up to 8K projectors and up to 120Hz operation;
- Cybersecure compliant to the highest standards
The new CAE Prodigy IG is compatible with existing CAE databases, thus giving customers the ability to upgrade and enhance realism without requiring completely new databases.
“With pinpoint accuracy crucial to success, the simulation industry presents technical challenges that we don’t see in other domains,” said Marc Petit, Vice President and General Manager, Unreal Engine, Epic Games. “Meeting these necessary demands has helped us to further innovate our technology and introduce new features to Unreal Engine that shatter the perception of what a game engine can accomplish. The Prodigy IG represents just the first branch in our relationship with CAE, and we look forward to many fruitful collaborations in the coming years.” (Source: ASD Network)
30 Nov 21. US Navy, Marines look for training systems with accurate adversaries, ability to track individual performance. As the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps reshape themselves to defeat sophisticated adversaries around the globe, the heads of the sea services say they need virtual training systems that can go beyond just “reps and sets” and accurately reflect the fight they expect to face as well as demonstrate how well prepared individual sailors and Marines are for that fight.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger said the service is moving with urgency to reshape the force, its operating concepts and its training for the high-end pacing threat of China. But it’s struggling to fully replicate Chinese or other adversary behavior in its simulators and other training systems, and that’s one key area where industry can help. We envision our adversary thinking and operating and fighting like we do, which is a big mistake,” Berger said Nov. 30 at the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference. “In other words, modeling and simulation can help bake in how we think the adversary is going to fight, how they are going to operate, which is not necessarily how we would.”
“We need help in creating the software, the simulation, that doesn’t replicate us, it replicates the adversary, whether it’s Russia or Iran or the [People’s Republic of China], [People’s Liberation Army],” he continued. “They’re all going to operate differently, so we need the fidelity there to allow us, our practitioners, to see they’re not thinking like we are,”
Berger noted the gold standard of training is against a thinking adversary that responds to the decisions made by U.S. military leaders and units going through the training, rather than using pre-programmed moves. Still, it’s hard for an American to put aside years or decades of training and fully replicate a Chinese or Russian military unit’s behaviors and mindsets while playing the aggressor in a training scenario, and so a software simulation that can be both accurate to the adversary as well as responsive to actions taken in the exercise would be ideal.
Berger added that, to prepare for a high-end adversary, the services also need training systems that can fuse together with systems from other services and other foreign militaries.
“We assumed that we’re going to need an asymmetric approach. In other words, we’re not going to out-muscle, out-size this pacing threat; you have to have an asymmetric advantage. And the asymmetric advantage that we have is our ability to operate as a team,” he said. “So how do we take that to the next level? The way we do that, obviously, is to train together. But the impediments against that are, I think, what this forum has focused on for the last few years, is, each one of us has proprietary training systems; now we know we need to operate, train together, but they’re proprietary. How do we fuse them together?”
In addition to creating these training systems to better prepare the force to succeed against a peer threat, Berger and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said the technology also exists to better track individual proficiency, performance and progress, and they want to use some of that technology to boost the performance of individuals and units.
“What we’re really after is warfighting proficiency, which reps and sets is an element of,” Gilday said. “But understanding how, down to the individual level, not only what we’re good at but what we’re deficient at, and then to focus on those deficiencies in a way to raise the bar for individuals and then collectively across the team” should be the ultimate goal of training.
The CNO described something like a baseball card for each sailor, with clear metrics that can show strengths and weaknesses compared to other sailors.
In the explosive ordnance disposal community, for example, Gilday said sailors train using systems that can measure their physical and mental performance and monitor for signs of strain. That technology could be applied more widely to better understand individual performance, he said.
Additionally, this “baseball card” could include metrics on job performance as well as physical and mental performance. He said the Navy learned a lot in its effort to reach 80% mission capable rates for its fighter jet fleet, when the service fully revamped its maintenance practices rather than spending more money to achieve more readiness. Gilday said the Navy assumed all the maintainers in their jobs were proficient, but some sailors were assigned to jobs — or leading other sailors in jobs — they hadn’t done recently and weren’t properly trained for.
For example, he said, if a sailor hasn’t done an engine changeout in three years, why is that sailor running the shop that does engine changeouts? With a better understanding of each sailors’ past training and experiences, as well as their demonstrated proficiency, the Navy is seeing success in properly assigning sailors to jobs where they can contribute the most, and Gilday said he wants to see that expanded to other communities.
Berger said the technology exists outside the military to do this — in the physical fitness world — and that the military could easily adapt the technology to track service members’ fitness, occupational proficiency, training history and more.
Noting that his hotel here had two Peloton bikes in its gym, he remarked, “you can get on that Peloton bike this morning here in Orlando, plug in your profile if you live in Illinois, and continue your training. And your whole training for the past three years on Peloton bikes is there. Why can’t we do that for jet maintenance? Why can’t we do that for any occupation?” (Source: Defense News)
30 Nov 21. Exercise Griffin Eagle tests ADF aviation capability. The 1st Aviation Regiment deployed a squadron of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tigers to California in August and September to work alongside their US Marine Corps (USMC) counterparts. Exercise Griffin Eagle also provided the Australians with an opportunity to further develop their attack and reconnaissance aviation capability through training and interoperability activities. A range of previous pilot exchange programs meant there was an established relationship with the USMC that could be built upon by the visiting squadron, according to the Officer Commanding Task Unit Marlin Major Jason Perrins.
“A few years ago, I flew Cobra helicopters on the US West Coast as part of the exchange program,” MAJ Perrins said.
“In recent years, close relationships have also been formed with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit during combined exercises in Australia.
“Being able to complete a number of training qualification activities with the USMC was a key outcome of the deployment.”
MAJ Perrins added that the ARH Tiger performed well in the desert conditions.
“The hot and dusty conditions were similar to the ones we experience in Darwin,” he said.
“The surrounding mountains also provided an awesome backdrop for the high-altitude flying training.”
According to Captain Jack Herrod, the exercise tested logistics processes.
“Normally, there are some elements of the supply chain that are already established,” he said.
“Distance, a limited supply chain and available space to take equipment were key considerations in the planning to support the aircraft and personnel.”
Sustaining an exercise in the US was a major achievement, according to Major Timothy Byrne, of the 16th Aviation Brigade.
“Exercise Griffin Eagle was an excellent opportunity to deploy and sustain a complex aviation capability in an austere environment,” MAJ Byrne concluded.
“Working closely with joint agencies and our industry partners, the 1st Aviation Regiment maintained consistent online aircraft including live-fire activities.
“The lessons learnt from this exercise will enhance our ability to provide safe, effective and sustainable aviation to the joint force.” (Source: Defence Connect)
30 Nov 21. RAVE Computer to Showcase Real-Time Collaborative Battle Simulation Over 5G at I/ITSEC, World’s Largest Modeling, Simulation and Training Event. RAVE Computer, a leader in the development of purpose built computing solutions, today showcased a real-time collaborative virtual battle simulation at I/ITSEC 2021, the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training event. The showcased solution is the result of a collaboration between RAVE Computer, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., Varjo, and Real-Time Innovations (RTI). It will feature RAVE’s RenderBEAST compute, the Varjo XR-3 HMD, Kratos’ immersive battle simulation content, and 5G communication technology by RTI.
The demonstrations will feature three participants, operating in individual booths, over a 5G cellular network in a multi-participant battlefield simulation. Leveraging training and simulation content from Kratos, and RAVE’s innovative RenderBEAST compute––the communications capabilities provided by RTI will allow all operators to participate in the simulated training together in one virtual environment––setting an example of how collaborative multi-participant training can be delivered regardless of the soldiers’ geographically distinct locations.
“RAVE Computer’s collaboration with Kratos Training Solutions, Varjo, and Real-Time Innovations reinforces our commitment to continuing to evolve the delivery of defense training,” said Jim Powers, Director of Professional Services, RAVE Computer. “At I/ITSEC, the participants will be located in the same building. However, this solution will allow soldiers to collaboratively participate in immersive training directly from wherever they are located around the world––not only breaking down geographic borders––but truly enabling training at the point of need.”
Battle Simulation Training Powered by RAVE RenderBEAST Compute
The battle simulation is powered by RAVE’s Varjo-ready RenderBEAST compute, featuring the NVIDIA RTX 3090 GPU and Intel Core i9-11900K processor. The RenderBEAST is designed to be flexible, customizable and adaptable to customer specification. Boasting whisper-quiet performance and a compact form factor, it has been rigorously tuned to support power draw, acoustic output, and thermal performance targets to ensure customers have a balanced system that can run in boost mode for extended periods. This balanced approach delivers highly efficient workflows and lets customers extract maximum value from the workstation to deliver world-class, professional-grade AR/VR/XR. Additional customization can be made to optimize performance for specific customer applications. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Nov 21. Chinese aircraft carrier “designed to train military personnel against drone swarms.” A report by UAS Vision describes a mini-aircraft carrier intended to launch and recover small aerial drones. The catamaran vessel was exhibited at the Zhuhai Airshow according to the report, which is attributed to The Drive.
The ship is designed to simulate hostile drone swarms, along with other kinds of threats, such as high-volume anti-ship missile strikes and distributed electronic warfare attacks. It also reflects the Chinese military’s interest in operational swarming capabilities, and especially in the maritime domain.
It is believed the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) is involved in the development of the ship.
The ship is expected to be employed in maritime exercises. For conducting a realistic drone swarm training exercise, it will be required to release a cluster of drones at once.
The model of the vessel at Zhuhai depicted it carrying five relatively small tandem-rotor drone helicopters on a large open foredeck in front of the main superstructure. In addition, it showed multiple large antenna domes, which might be associated with high-bandwidth communications systems that would be useful for controlling large groups of unmanned helicopters. The domes were mounting on a large tower on top of the superstructure that would offer a very good location just for positioning line-of-sight control links.
As for the drones themselves, the CASIC booth also had a separate model of one of them showing a bar underneath the fuselage with what appears to be some kind of radiofrequency signal emitter installed on either end. What could be other antennas are seen jutting out from the sides of the fuselage and the portly design points to some degree of internal payload capacity. For more information visit: www.uasvision.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
30 Nov 21. Cubic to continue providing live simulation support to the Canadian Army. The amendment extends the CLS contract of CMPS until October 2023. Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS) has secured a contract amendment with the Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC).
The two-year contract has been awarded on behalf of Canada’s Department of National Defence.
The amendment extends the contractor conducted logistics support (CLS) contract of CMPS until October 2023.
The company currently provides continuous logistics support to the Canadian weapon effects simulation (CWES) programme.
Cubic noted that the contract extension supports the CWES live training at the Canadian Forces’ four bases.
Included in the contract amendment is: logistics support for the multi-code instrumented harness kit (IHK), the tactical armoured patrol vehicle (TAPV), using Cubic’s latest Wireless Vehicle Kit (WVK), and the medium support vehicle system WVK, as well as the urban operations training system.
The company has recently delivered these new CWES capabilities to the Canadian Army.
Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions president Mike Knowles said: “We value our longstanding partnership with the Canadian Army, and we are pleased to continue our live simulation training support to the CWES programme.
“This contract extension expands on the work we have accomplished together to effectively advance the Canadian Army’s live training experience, improve operational readiness, and reduce training costs.”
Cubic received the original CWES contract in February 2003.
The CWES programme is aimed at addressing weaknesses in simulating realistic weapons effects during ‘force-on-force field’ training drills.
In September, Cubic Missions announced that it had signed a contract with the US Army to develop a Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Live Training System (LTS) prototype. (Source: army-technology.com)
30 Nov 21. US Navy Seabees conclude COMMEX exercise with 9th ESB Marines. The exercise offered an opportunity to practice communicating in a degraded simulated environment. The U.S. Navy Seabees with NMCB-5 completed the COMMEX with Marines assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion. NMCB-5 is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, strengthening their alliances and partnerships, and providing general engineering and civil support to joint operational forces. Homeported out of Port Hueneme, California, NMCB-5 has 13 detail sites deployed throughout the U.S. and Indo-Pacific area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Utilitiesman Constructionman William Ramirez)
US Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 has successfully concluded a joint Communications Exercise (COMMEX).
The exercise was conducted with 9th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB) Marines aboard Camp Shields in Okinawa, Japan.
According to the US Navy, the exercise allowed the battalion to practice communicating in a degraded environment using different communication equipment.
It offered the battalion an opportunity to self-evaluate their capability, identify challenges or gaps, and learn to operate effectively in the evolving battlespace.
The exercise also proved that they could execute command and control of the battalion’s detail sites across the Indo-Pacific region.
NMCB-5 Marine Corps liaison officer 1st lieutenant Brandon Jackson said: “It provides the commander a snapshot of his battalion’s current readiness to operate, should he need to transition into the ‘Fight Tonight’.
“I was able to see things from an outside perspective and identify potential gaps in how the Seabees currently operate concerning the evolving battlespace.
“This, in turn, allowed the staff to drive the battalion to experience unfamiliar concepts.
“Concepts such as minimal communication windows with subordinate commands, new reporting formats, and an emphasis heavily placed on actions needing to be taken via implicit tasking and following commander’s intent.”
Furthermore, the marines executed a proof of concept to reach an adjacent unit over voice and data via the ‘Mobile User Objective System’ assets.
In May last year, NMCB 3 successfully concluded a command sustainment exercise, which included one construction project in support of Naval Base Ventura County and two Seabee Technical Training modules.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
29 Nov 21. Russia’s CMD crews conduct Mi-8 helicopter training in Tyva. The training involved ten transport and assault Mi-8AMTSh-V helicopters and approximately 100 personnel. The Central Military District (CMD) in Russia has conducted a training exercise with Mi-8 helicopters in the mountains of Western Sayan in the Tyva Republic. The training involved ten transport and assault Mi-8AMTSh-V helicopters and approximately 100 personnel, including flight and engineering staff, as well as specialists from the search and rescue and parachute services. During the exercise, the helicopter crew performed landing and take-off operations from unprepared mountain sites at high altitudes. The helicopters also flew over difficult terrain and delivered cargo on an external load to high-altitude sites. The helicopter pilots used GEO-ONV1-01 night-vision goggles for the first time to complete missions during low light conditions and at night. The goggles helped them to navigate through the region without using external signals and internal lighting. They completed over 100 sorties during the day and participated in more than five tactical missions at night. The Su-35S and MiG-31 BM pilots of the Leningrad Army of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Western Military District (WMD) participated in separate group flights to hone their skills and efficiency. Their tasks included take-off, landing, and flying a given course. In August 2021, Russian and Chinese armed forces conducted a large-scale strategic exercise called Sibu/Interaction 2021 at the Qingtongxia training ground in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. (Source: army-technology.com)
29 Nov 21. RAF to deploy to Stornoway for Exercise Agile Pirate. The exercise is part of a series of drills that will support the development of the future ACE concept. RAF chose Stornoway the exercise’s strategic location due to its relative remoteness. Credit: Royal Air Force. UK Crown Copyright. Personnel and aircraft of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) are set to deploy to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides to participate in Exercise Agile Pirate. A total of 60 members, Typhoon fighter jet from RAF Lossiemouth and A400M from RAF Brize Norton will take part in the exercise.
The exercise will see the RAF personnel practice Typhoon fighter jets refuelling and rearming from a forward location.
It is designed to test ‘what is the minimum footprint of people and kit and processes required’ to successfully deploy and sustain aircraft to a temporary location within short notice.
Stornoway was selected for the exercise due to its relative remoteness.
RAF exercise planner Squadron leader Astle said: “The next few days will test our ability with the minimum footprint of people and kit to receive, debrief, re-arm, refuel and rebrief a Combat Air capability.
“In short bursts of activity, we will use an A400M to bring in kit and also directly refuel our in-situ fuel bowser to support the Typhoon – an activity delivered by 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron from RAF Wittering. At the same time, six Squadron engineers will service and simulate re-arming the aircraft while the crews take advantage of our deployed comms capability to debrief and rebrief prior to re-launching.
“All of this under the watchful eye of a deployed team from 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and other security specialists providing an enclave protection and counter-intruder capability.”
A headquarters from RAF Marham-based 138 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) will command the deployment made up of specialists’ team in workforce preparation and admin, tactical refuelling teams, as well as armaments experts, logisticians, among others.
The exercise will contribute to the development and execution of the future Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.
ACE is a new concept that seeks to allow RAF to operate from a greater number of locations. This capability enables increased flexibility and resilience.
A series of exercises will be conduction in support of ACE over the coming three years. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
29 Nov 21. Navies of Sri Lanka, India and Maldives conduct maritime drills. Known as CSC, Focused Operation, the exercise seeks to improve interoperability between the three nations. The navies of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka have conducted a two-day maiden exercise known as the ‘Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused Operation’. The operation, held on 27 and 28 November, was aimed at enhancing maritime security cooperation and promote peace in the Indian Ocean Region. It also focused on improving mutual operational capability and exercise interoperability.
According to information from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD), ships and vessels of the Indian Navy, Maldives National Defence Force and the Sri Lankan Navy participated in the exercise.
The vessels operated near the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the three countries in Southern Arabian Sea.
The trilateral engagement offered an opportunity for participants to practise techniques and procedure for counter narcotics, search and rescue at sea, air tracking and establishing effective communication operations.
According to the MoD, the Focused Operation seeks to help build interoperability between the lead maritime security agencies of the three countries.
Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen the operational synergy through the exchange of information by conducting coordinated operations to manage maritime incidents.
The Indian High Commission in the Maldives was quoted by media sources as saying that ‘the aim of India-Maldives-Sri Lanka tri-lateral exercise ‘Dosti’ is to further fortify the friendship’ between the nations.
In July this year, a trilateral Table Top Exercise (TTX) was held between these three navies, while the three countries participated in the 5th Deputy National Security Advisors (NSA) meeting of Colombo Security Conclave in August. (Source: naval-technology.com)
28 Nov 21. Destruction of a notional enemy by soldiers of the Central Military District at the COBALT-2021 CSTO CRRF exercise in Tajikistan. In Tajikistan, during Exercise COBALT-2021, military personnel of the [Russian] Central Military District destroyed a mock enemy in a village. Servicemen of the [Russian] Central Military District (CMD) stormed a building and destroyed the barricaded simulated opponents during the joint COBALT-2021 exercise of Special Forces, Internal Affairs Agencies, State Security, and Emergency Situations and Drug Control ministries and departments of the Collective Rapid Response Force (CRRF) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Tajikistan. Having blockaded the settlement, captured by the notional enemy, the servicemen, under the cover of large-calibre machine guns mounted on armoured personnel carriers, carried out an assault. As a result, the leader of the notional gang and several simulated militants were taken prisoner, the rest were destroyed. The Russian military contingent in the exercise was represented by servicemen of the Special Forces Unit [Spetsnaz] of the Central Military District and the Reconnaissance Battalion of the 201st military base, which was taking part in such an exercise for the first time. In total, about 60 personnel and ten pieces of military equipment were involved, including two Mi-8MTV5-1 helicopters of the 201st Military Base Air Group. (Source: Joint Forces)
25 Nov 21. USMC and US Navy conduct tactics and simulated strikes training. Platforms participating in the exercise included the F/A-18C, E, and F variants, E-2D, and KC-130J. The US Marine Corps’ (USMC) 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) and the US Navy’s 7th Fleet have practised tactics and simulated strikes in the Pacific. The joint rehearsal was conducted off the coast of Okinawa in Japan. Planners coordinated their efforts from the Indo-Pacific locations in Okinawa, mainland Japan, and onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
F/A-18C, E, and F variants, E-2D, and KC-130J aircraft took part in the training between the two services.
Jeremy Siegel, 1st MAW current operations officer and exercise lead planner lieutenant colonel, said: “This training offered a vital opportunity to practice lethal maritime actions with elements of the navy and Marine Corps operating against a peer adversary.
“This was extremely valuable because it allowed us to further refine our tactics, techniques and procedures for carrying out joint maritime strikes and it also provided us the opportunity to practice command and control of a diverse organisational structure.”
To maintain operational readiness, the US forces in the Indo-Pacific frequently train and rehearse maritime mission sets.
The routine mission sets involve performing various operational tasks that ensure peace and security in the region.
The training also ensures the US armed forces train and operate with each other and boost ties with regional alliances and partnerships.
Carrier Strike Group One commander rear admiral Dan Martin said: “The US Navy is committed to consistent forward presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
“As part of the larger US Joint Force and alongside our allies and partners, our strategy is simple. To develop and maintain warfighting capabilities, readiness, and sustainment necessary to guarantee freedom in the maritime domain. We train and rehearse so that, if necessary, we can act in the global community’s interest in upholding the rules-based international order that has ensured the sovereignty and prosperity of all nations.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
25 Nov 21. Royal Marines commandos test new tactics during desert exercises. Air Defence Troop of 30 Commando were part of commando element of Littoral Response Group. Air Defence Troop of Royal Marines unit 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group have tested new tactics during desert exercises in California. Deployed as part of the newly formed Littoral Response Group (South), commandos spent the last two months in the Mojave Desert alongside allies. The best military training area provided an opportunity for the commandos to test new tactics and share knowledge with allies. The LRG is one of two new British Royal Navy task groups that was established to respond to world events. It will become operational next year.
During an intensive five-day exercise in California, Air Defence Troop worked with forces from the Netherlands, the UAE, Canada, and the US.
Commandos were tasked with protecting allied forces and worked alongside their counterparts US Marines’ 2nd and 3rd Low Altitude Air Defence Battalions.
The adversary was made up of US marines and the commandos had to defend three ‘urban sprawls’.
During the mock battle, commandos deployed into three small teams and took various positions.
Based on the intelligence they received, commandos conducted strikes on three Super Cobras and a Sea Stallion helicopter, as well as also on convoys using surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs).
According to the Royal Navy, commandos also trialled the MRZR vehicle during the exercise.
The US-made Polaris MRZR-D4 is an ultralight 4×4 off-roader vehicle developed by Polaris Defense, a division of Polaris Industries.
It can carry up to four commandos and reach speeds of 60mph for quick movement across the combat field. (Source: naval-technology.com)
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