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10 Feb 22. 6 RAR put marksmanship to the test. Snipers from the regiment have kicked off the year with live-fire training exercises to hone their skills and build camaraderie. Personnel from 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) have completed a week of training at the Wide Bay training area, near Gympie in Queensland, in an effort to bond in small teams and hone the marksmanship skills.
This included ‘truing’ — a highly mathematical process employed by snipers to finely tune their weapons, considering elevation and bullet flight time to optimise accuracy.
The two-person sniper teams, made up of a ‘number one’ and a ‘number two’, were also encouraged to engage in team bonding activities.
“While there’s a separation between the number one and number two in terms of leadership, the majority of the time we are discussing the mission on the same level,” Lance Corporal Reece Tolinson said.
“It’s a very intimate team; we work closely with one another, so it’s essential we establish an effective working relationship.”
Sniper teams are deployed across a range of mission types during both operations and training exercises.
“We generally step off at night, working our way to different rendezvous points before pushing onto an observation point,” LCPL Tomlinson added.
“From there we observe the objective and relay information back to the headquarters, provide battlefield commentary for up to 72 hours and, if required, fire upon the objective.”
Snipers serve as one of the battalion’s forward observers.
“The responsibility we are afforded is what I love most about this role; we all work to a high standard and expect a high level of competence,” he continued.
“While we’re soldiers at a lower rank, we’ve received enough training allowing us to report to an officer in the headquarters, often the commanding officer, who will use that information to inform decisions on the battlefield.
“We work hard to learn this skill set and it’s rewarding to be given this responsibility.”
Private Jack Sendall, who passed the sniper course in late 2021, welcomed the opportunity to leverage his skills in support of Army’s operational objectives.
“As a sniper you’re trained to a high level in the basic marksmanship principles,” PTE Sendall said.
“Your breathing techniques, correctly positioning yourself behind the rifle, calming yourself down, firing accurately, maintaining a perfect sight picture – they all come together.”
PTE Sendall noted the importance of learning from more experienced peers.
“The number ones have a good amount of experience and are happy to share that knowledge, and often, as a number two, you understudy your number one,” he said.
“It’ll only take a couple of years and I’ll have enough knowledge to be able to step up to become a number one myself.
“Working within the sniper cell, you work with some really professional guys.” (Source: Defence Connect)
10 Feb 22. US Navy adds live ATC communication into simulator flight training. The US Navy has added live air traffic control (ATC) communication to its undergraduate primary flight training. During simulator training, Student Naval aviators (SNA) with Training Air Wing (TW) 4, situated at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi were able to interact with live ATC personnel directly, reported Chief of Naval Air Training Ensign Jahanna Conner. This new advancement has been delivered under Chief of Naval Air Training’s (CNATRA) new prototype primary flight training syllabus, Project Avenger. Project Avenger has been designed to accelerate the creation of more capable aviators by including the latest technology to optimise the development of skills while minimising training periods. To enable live ATC interaction, the curriculum incorporates PilotEdge, a software service that offers students with live communications with certified air traffic controllers. During the simulator training, the students receive instructions from these controllers via radio communications. This development is expected to provide flight students with a quicker understanding of real-world flight.
Prior to Project Avenger, the simulator instructor verbally provided ATC communication.
TW-4 Project Avenger detachment officer in charge commander Joshua Calhoun said: “Our students are able to learn flight communications earlier, and more frequently, allowing them to become more adept more quickly than students who came before them.”
It was noted that students who went on to advanced flight training for jets after completing the new syllabus performed above average than those who finished the old syllabus. With four units, TW-4 coaches student aviators in primary, intermediate, and advanced flight training. These units involve 800 officers and enlisted personnel, as well as more than 180 aircraft and simulators. (Source: naval-technology.com)
07 Feb 22. IAF to hold Vayushakti-2022 exercise next month. Around 140 aircraft, including 100 fighter jets, are expected to participate in the exercise. Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct the Vayushakti-2022 military drill at Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan next month. According to The Times of India (TOI) report, a meeting between IAF and the local administration was held recently as part of the preparations for the exercise. The exercise is expected to involve 140 aircraft, including 100 fighter jets.The exercise was previously scheduled for this month. However, it is now slated for 5 March 2022. Vayushakti-2022 will involve a variety of operations such as counter airstrike, defensive counter-air, offensive counter-air, and other demonstrations. It is expected to be attended by Indian President Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Preparations for the exercise are currently underway with fighter jets honing target-hitting skills, official sources told the publication. The sources further told TOI that a variety of missiles will be demonstrated during the event. Drill participants may include Rafale planes equipped with MICA missiles such as the Sukhoi-30, MiG29, LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, MiG-21 Bison jets among others. IAF’s Apache, Chinook and Dhruv helicopters will participate in certain activities during the night. The Vayushakti war exercise is conducted every three years. Last year, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IAF tested the indigenously developed Long-Range Bomb (LRB). The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) later said that the test fulfilled all the mission objectives. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
07 Feb 22. US Armed Forces and JMSDF commence exercise Noble Fusion. Noble Fusion is being led by Combined Task Force 76, along with the third Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The joint and combined naval expeditionary exercise, Noble Fusion, has commenced in the Philippine Sea near Luzon Strait and the Miyako Strait. Several elements of the US Navy, US Marine Corps (USMC), US Air Force (USAF) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) are taking part in the exercise. It is led by Combined Task Force 76, along with the third Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), reported gunnery sergeant Dengrier Baez. Two Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)/Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), for the first time since 2018, are functioning together in the Indo-Pacific along with a CSG under Exercise Noble Fusion. Noble Fusion’s aim is to showcase that joint and allied naval expeditionary forces can swiftly come together as a combat force when required. The combat force will be able to carry out lethal sea-denial operations, capture key maritime terrain, assure freedom of movement, and place US, partner, and allied forces at an advantageous position.
Combined Task Force 79 operations officer colonel Michael Brennan said: “Integrating the elements of the dual-MEU/ARG team with the power of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), joint elements and our Japanese counterparts in a distributed operation demonstrates our ability to command and control lethal forces in contested areas, create strategic advantage and integrated deterrence.
“Our sea-denial operations with naval expeditionary integration and littoral allies prepares us to counter potential adversarial aggressive actions in the First Island Chain.”
The 11th MEU/USS Essex (LHD 2) ARG and CSG 3 performed an amphibious manoeuvre to demonstrate the ability to capture important terrain with different kinds of aircraft flying in the Philippine Sea.
AV-8B Harriers and MV-22B Ospreys of the 11th MEU operated from Essex, as well as rehearsed integrated air operations.
The platforms were accompanied by a Navy E-2D operating from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) within the Luzon Strait.
Furthermore, 11th MEU marines and sailors aboard the Essex carried out operational inspection on the Stalker uncrewed aerial solution.
In July last year, the US, UK, and Dutch naval forces performed a large-scale combined, bilateral surface, air, and sub-surface joint interoperability exercise in the Gulf of Aden. (Source: naval-technology.com)
07 Feb 22. British Army Pathfinders conduct training in Stanford. British Army 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Pathfinders have conducted military drills at the Stanford training area ranges, in Norfolk. The training involved practising fire and manoeuvre tactics with RWMIK patrol vehicles, during the day and night. These vehicles were equipped with heavy machine guns and grenade machine guns for the drill. The troops also fired the NLAW anti-tank missiles.
A Pathfinders troop commander said: “Conducting reconnaissance missions in vehicles, which we refer to as ‘Mobo Ops’, means we can operate deep into enemy territory to set the conditions for the main force.
“Firepower is always a last resort, but the weaponry we carry is much heavier than an enemy would be expecting recce troops to carry, so we can fight ourselves out of any situation. It also means that we can strike targets of opportunity when they are least expecting to be attacked.”
Pathfinders are the 16 Air Assault BCT’s advance force, specialising in infiltrating behind enemy lines to find and relay vital information to support missions. The unit plays a key role in identifying drop zones and landing zones for air landing missions.
After completing initial reconnaissance missions, the Pathfinders support the main strike force or act as a decoy to support larger attacks.
The commander added: “The unit is all about highly motivated soldiers who are ready to deploy quickly and independently to execute whatever mission is asked of them, which, by enabling others to do their mission, means we punch well above our weight.”
The BCT is British Army’s Global Response Force. It specialises in air assault operations and remains in very high-level readiness to respond to global crises. Last month, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that its military-related expenditure in Scotland totalled £1.99bn in 2020/2021. (Source: army-technology.com)
07 Feb 22. Nova joins Team AUStringer to pursue RAAF’s Project AIR 5428 Phase 3. The Aviation Mission Training System will be used to provide training for the RAAF’s mission aviators. Nova Systems has joined Team AUStringer, which will pursue the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Project AIR 5428 Phase 3 Aviation Mission Training System (AMTS).
Team AUStringer is led by CAE, the prime contractor, in partnership with Cobham.
Nova Systems will offer professional and engineering services as part of the teaming agreement, which will also cover the company’s extensive experience gained from its involvement in the AIR 5428 Phase 1 programme.
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CAE Australia Indo-Pacific managing director Matthew Sibree said: “We are honoured to have Nova Systems as part of Team AUStringer because they bring a wealth of experience supporting the delivery of complex defence programmes.
“We are well aware of their solid reputation, particularly in East Sale, as a result of their successful participation in the RAAF’s new pilot training programme.
“With both Cobham and Nova Systems now part of Team AUStringer, we are demonstrating our commitment to developing a sovereign Aviation Mission Training System that builds Australia’s industry capability.”
The RAAF’s AMTS will be used to train electronic warfare officers, maritime patrol and response officers, air battle managers, air traffic controllers and other mission specialists.
It will be installed at the Air Academy situated at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.
The comprehensive training solution will include ground-based and airborne training, along with a digitally supported integrated learning environment. Nova Systems managing director Adam Smith said: “As a 100% Australian-owned and controlled engineering services and technology solutions company, Nova Systems has partnered with the Royal Australian Air Force for more than two decades.”
CAE currently provides training to RAAF aircrew on platforms, including the C-130J, KC-30A, AP-3C, and Hawk Mk127. Germany’s BAAINBw recently signed a deal with CAE for providing initial training services for the German Air Force aviators. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
07 Feb 22. Lockheed Martin Australia delivers AIR 5428 Pilot Training System to ADF. Lockheed Martin Australia and Team 21 have confirmed delivery of the simulators and aircraft to the ADF to support the professional development of Army, Navy and Air Force pilots.
Lockheed Martin Australia has confirmed that the AIR 5428 Pilot Training system, developed alongside Team 21 partners Pilatus and Jet Aviation as well as the Royal Australian Air Force, has been successfully delivered to the ADF to support the continued development of military aviators.
The pilot training system comprises a PC-21 aircraft, flight simulators, cockpit trainers and mission plaining and support capabilities. So far, Lockheed Martin Australia can confirm that the pilot training program has graduated 35 Air Force, 11 Navy and 27 Army pilots.
“Lockheed Martin Australia proudly welcomes the Commonwealth’s acceptance of the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System,” Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald said.
“This is a significant program milestone for Lockheed Martin Australia, our industry partners and the Commonwealth, as it signifies that this innovative system has been successfully delivered and offers enduring training capability to meet the ADF’s requirements.
“We look forward to advancing and sustaining the AIR 5428 pilot training system with excellence and in conjunction with our Team 21 partners and the RAAF.”
Throughout the acquisition of the pilot simulation system, Lockheed Martin Australia has confirmed that the product had undergone rigorous test and evaluation procedures to ensure readiness.
The tests include over 10,000 aircraft flying events, 3,500 flight simulations, 97 per cent mission success when compared with the contract’s key performance metrics as well as 100 per cent success during ground school contracted performance measures.
Lockheed Martin Australia vice president of rotary and mission systems operations Steve Froelich welcomed the program result.
“Lockheed Martin Australia was immensely proud of the program outcome,” Froelich said.
“This outcome is a testament of Lockheed Martin Australia’s sustained focus, strong collaboration with our Team 21 partners, and a mission-first mindset to deliver an innovative and tailored system to meet the future needs of ADF pilots.”
(Source: Defence Connect)
04 Feb 22. Flight Design, Bland Shire partner to create ‘Australia’s second drone range.’ Flight Design and Bland Shire have partnered to develop Australia’s “second drone range”, with Flight Design now managing three sites in central NSW to cater for a range of uncrewed aircraft and operating under Defence Aviation Safety Authority approval.
Flight Design and Bland Shire have partnered to provide Australia’s drone operators with additional drone testing options, with Flight Design now managing three new drone operating sites around West Wyalong following successful environmental approvals.
Of the three sites, large winged long distance drones will be able to operate from the airport, while a 700 acre farm with radio capabilities will facilitate rotary blade vehicles and swarms. It is expected that a large lake with “20km x 10km range” will also be utilised as an additional drone testing site.
According to a release from Bland Shire Council, the range facilities are currently operational, with the range’s inaugural customer working in the defence industry and operating under Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) regulations.
The pair have confirmed that drone flights can also be launched from high altitude balloons at the three sites. However, an additional site under consideration near Canberra is unlikely to be able to facilitate high altitude balloon launches.
Flight Design has welcomed collaboraton with other firms to support the development of uncrewed systems, and can support both CASA and DASA approvals.
Bland Shire hopes that the new drone testing facilities will make the region a Centre of Excellence for drone research for farm and business applications, with a number of locals working in drone range safety roles. In fact, the drone facility at West Wyalong has been designed to provide the tools and mechanical support needed for drone maintenance.
Currently, Flight Design specialises in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones that are designed to fly at 60,000 feet and above enemy sensors. (Source: Defence Connect)
27 Jan 22. The NATO Battlegroup in Estonia, enhanced by a British Paratrooper contingent is taking part in the annual WINTER CAMP exercise. Close to 1400 soldiers will take part in the annual WINTER CAMP exercise on the Central Training Area near Tapa, testing their infantry and armour capabilities against the harsh winter conditions in Estonia.
Demonstrating winter interoperability under the command of the 1st Infantry Brigade, British, French and Estonian soldiers will work alongside one another across a range of armour, infantry, planning, engineering and artillery scenarios. Members of the UK-led Battlegroup will this year also be joined by soldiers from the British Army’s Parachute and Yorkshire Regiments, who will learn to train alongside armour in a winter environment.
“Since our arrival in September, we have placed great emphasis on increasing the Battlegroup’s capability and developing integration and interoperability with our allies,” said Lt Col Simon Worth, Commanding Officer of the eFP Estonia Battlegroup. “The Battlegroup has completed a series of exercises to prepare us for operating in the cold weather environment, which allows us to deploy on WINTER CAMP alongside the Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade and demonstrate the significant progress we have made.”
During the exercise NATO soldiers will be conducting live firing, anti-tank exercises, infantry patrols and engineering tasks, before culminating in a ‘force on force’ attack and defend training serial, with Estonian colleagues from the Scouts Battalion and the Estonian Defence League posing as the adversary.
This year, exercise WINTER CAMP will also include co-ordination between ground and air forces each day. F-16 fighter jets from the Belgian Air Force, currently stationed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia as part of the NATO Air Policing mission, will provide the air support, enhancing the training for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, whose role is to direct actions of the aircraft and call in airstrikes.
“Fighting force on force with soldiers from Scouts Battalion and Defence League while at the same time being tested by Estonian winter and difficult terrain will provide a unique learning opportunity for the battlegroup,” said commander of 1st Infantry Brigade colonel Andrus Merilo. “WINTER CAMP will definitely develop United Kingdom, French and Estonian soldiers´ and their commanders’ skills. They will practice how to maintain combat capabilities of personnel and fighting vehicles and learn how to conduct offensive and defensive actions in winter conditions in the most effective way.”
“After several joint exercises, WINTER CAMP is the culmination of the French Combat Team’s participation to the eFP mission in Estonia,” said Lt Col Nicolas, Deputy Commanding Officer of the eFP Estonia Battlegroup. “It is a real opportunity for our soldiers to perfect their tactical skills in a demanding winter environment, as well as to strengthen their interoperability work with our NATO allies.”
As the largest winter exercise for the Battlegroup, it will begin on 29th January and is scheduled to run until the 6th of February.
NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Estonia is currently led by the Royal Tank Regiment from the United Kingdom, with France and Denmark providing forces on a rotational basis. Iceland also contributes to the eFP. The eFP Battlegroups in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are led by Canada, Germany and the US respectively and all NATO Battlegroups have been integrated into their host nations’ brigades to ensure maximum cohesion between Allied forces. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
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InVeris Training Solutions combines an agile approach with an unmatched expertise in training technology to design and deliver customized, cutting-edge, first-rate training solutions that keep military, law enforcement and commercial range customers safe, prepared and ready to serve – Because Seconds Matter™. With a portfolio of technology-enabled training solutions, and a team of 400 employees driven to innovate, InVeris Training Solutions is the global leader in integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training solutions. With its legacy companies, FATS® and Caswell, InVeris Training Solutions has fielded over 15,500 live-fire ranges and 7,500 virtual systems globally during its 95-year history. The Company is headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia and partners with clients in the US and around the world from facilities on five continents.
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