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22 May 19. Meggitt Training Systems to Expand Presence at National Sheriffs’ Association Event. Following a successful 2018 debut, Meggitt Training Systems will increase its presence at this year’s National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference. The law enforcement and correctional operations event will be held June 15-18, 2019 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.
“Meggitt’s expanding portfolio of virtual training systems help sheriffs and other law enforcement officers improve their marksmanship and judgmental skills at a level no competitor can match,” said Andrea Czop, vice president of strategy, sales and marketing for Meggitt Training Systems. “NSA attendees are invited to see demonstrations of the FATS® 100LE, featuring US Army-certified ballistics, as well as our live-fire products, including the SHOTT™ House and Road Range™ for large-scale or mobile training.”
The FATS 100LE simulator leverages state-of-the-art technology developed for and delivered to the US Army and Marine Corps, then customized for law enforcement training. Police-specific features include 3D marksmanship training, wireless tablet control with auto-coaching, and an intuitive unified interface across all training modes – for ease-of-use and reduction in training requirements. Consistent with its premium positioning, the FATS 100LE also features multi-screen capability, enhanced visuals and multiple weapons per trainee, including wireless BlueFire® ones. On-site installation and training are provided by Meggitt personnel to ensure the industry’s most sophisticated use-of-force simulator is ready for optimal use.
SHOTT House stands for Shoot House Optimized for Tactical Training and provides law enforcement officers the opportunity to practice securing a structure using live weapons and even a squad car or other vehicle. RoadRange is a ballistically secure mobile trailer, fully equipped to produce a three-position, state-of-the-art, live-fire range for training anywhere. Both the SHOTT House and RoadRange can be equipped with a FATS virtual training system to provide a comprehensive solution for law enforcement officer marksmanship, sustainment and judgmental training, including force escalation and de-escalation.
Meggitt Training Systems will also display its Stationary Infantry Target, a remote-controlled pop-up target actuator, capable of supporting a variety of target silhouettes. The target adapts to a variety of range environments, infrastructures and operational constraints, and does not contain hydraulic fluids, contaminants or hazardous toxins. Lightweight and portable, SITs are easily transported and stacked for deployment or storage. The SIT performs all standard target commands such as expose, conceal, hit-fall, hit-hold and hit-bob. The user can easily program any combination of commands in scenario mode without affecting the default settings.
To see a demonstration of Meggitt’s products and speak with a company representative during NSA, visit booth #837 or schedule an appointment at https://meggitttrainingsystems.com/about/request-a-meeting-with-meggitt-training-systems/. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 May 19. European Spartan 2019 C-27J exercise starts in Romania. Five EDA Member States operating C-27J Spartan military aircraft (Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia and Romania) participate in the 4th edition of the European Spartan exercise which started today (13 May) at Otopeni airbase in Romania. Observers from other C-27J user countries, such as Greece and even the United States and Australia, also attend the event which runs until 24 May. The aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability among European C27J Spartan operators. It is one of the outcomes of the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership signed in 2011 by 20 EDA Member States.
Designed by EDA and hosted by the Romanian Air Force, the event aims at promoting aircraft user type approaches to harmonise tactics, techniques and procedures as well as to develop more cost-effective solutions to operate and sustain the C27J. The objective is to provide air crews with both academic and flight training as well as to have ground crews developing harmonised procedures to eventually allowing them to perform cross maintenance on each other’s aircraft. The C-27J Spartan aircraft can perform tactical missions in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, providing direct air transport to the theatre, day and night.
This flying event was developed in the framework of the C27J cooperation concept launched in 2015 by EDA. This concept is looking at developing a far-reaching level of interoperability amongst European C27J operators through a variety of projects in the areas of operations & training, logistics, airworthiness, common procurement and SESAR. The main advantages of EDA’s user groups – that are working in full transparency and cooperate with all other existing user groups led by other organisations, industry and/or service providers – is to group medium and small national fleets to take advantage of economies of scale, to exchange best practices and to be more cost-efficient in operating and sustaining the aircraft.
Background information
The European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership, launched in 2011 and now gathering 20 Member States (AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, LT, LU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SE, NO and HU), aims at increasing the airlift provision in the EU, developing concrete solutions to increase the efficiency of existing and future fleets and to optimise the use of air transport organisations and structures. Other activities undertaken as part of EATF include the C-27 J Spartan Cooperation CAT B Programme, the Transport Plot Training Capacity AHWG, the Diplomatic Clearance Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) and the Operations and Training AHWG. (Source: EDA)
13 May 19. DARK BLADE 2019 kicks off in Czech Republic. DARK BLADE 2019, the 13th helicopter exercise organised under the umbrella of the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), takes place as of today (13 May) at Náměšť airbase in Czech Republic, until 1 June 2019.
A total of 29 air assets (25 helicopters + 4 fixed wing) and some 600 military personnel from six countries – Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia, – will participate in this exercise hosted by the Czech Air Force. DARK BLADE 2019 will allow crews to practice operations in various environment replicating the challenging conditions that participant forces are expected to encounter when deploying to a theatre of operation.
The exercise’s main focus will be on enhancing interoperability at the tactical level between helicopter units by using the Composite Air Operations (COMAO) concept in a combined, joint, realistic and challenging environment.
Its main objectives are to:
- enhance tactical interoperability between helicopter units from the participating countries by using the COMAO concept in a combined, joint, realistic and challenging environment and to operate using standard helicopter Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). The focus will be on Composite Air Operations (COMAO) with live firing and trooping;
- train and practise TTPs with/against fighter jets and electronic warfare means on the ground;
- improve interoperability in training and operational tasks with Ground Forces involvement (NVG operations, low level flying, formation flights, FARP training, gunnery, etc.) in a full spectrum environment.
Programme
Participating crews will fly diverse day and night COMAO missions and execute Air Assault (AA), Air Interdiction (AI), Air Transport (AT), Close Air Support (CAS), Personnel Recovery (PR) missions, night flights (with/without NVG) and other missions at tactical level.
They will also train special procedures like marshalling, fast rope and abseiling techniques, Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE), pick-up and drop off procedures, air-to-surface live firing (helicopter door gunnery and sniper training).
In addition, DARK BLADE 2019 will provide multiple opportunities to practice multinational training with the Special Operation Forces (e.g. infiltration and exfiltration) and will enhance crews’ skills in using the HEP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and COMAO planning procedures in the conduct of tactical missions.
Six instructors from Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom trained in EDA’s Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC) accompanied with some Instructors from the Netherlands trained on the Dutch Helicopter Weapon Instructor (HWI) course will jointly form the DARK BLADE 2019 Mentor Team, ready to support the multinational crews during the preparation and execution of the COMAO missions. The EDA’s Chief Instructor (CI) Team will manage and supervise the Mentor Team to ensure consistency and the best possible uptake of lessons learned coming from EDA helicopter activities (HTC, HTIC, COMAO planning and the EW Course) and operational experience.
Distinguished Visitors Day
A Distinguished Visitors Day (DVD) is planned for 28 May 2019 when representatives from all EDA Member States and representatives of Switzerland, Norway and the Republic of Serbia will have the opportunity to attend and observe various live training sessions.
Background
The annual Blade exercise is part of EDA’s wider Helicopter Portfolio aimed at providing Member States with a joint European framework to develop, consolidate and share best practices in order to meet the challenges of flying helicopters in a modern operational environment. Other components of this Portfolio are the annual HEP Symposium, the Helicopter Tactics Courses (HTC), the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Courses (HTIC), and the COMAO Planning and Electronic Warfare (EW) Courses. (Source: EDA)
21 May 19. Joint maritime exercise focuses on allied interoperability in the Indian Ocean. Naval vessels from Australia, France, Japan and the United States are set to commence the first iteration of the French-led maritime Exercise La Perouse in the Indian Ocean.
Exercise La Perouse will consist of two Royal Australian Navy units, the helicopter frigate HMAS Toowoomba and the submarine HMAS Collins, along with vessels from France, Japan and the United States.
Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, AM, said Australia’s participation in supporting the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Task Group highlighted the valued working relationship between Australia and France.
“The inclusion of an Australian frigate and submarine with a French Carrier Task Group provides a positive example of the cooperative relationship our Navies enjoy,” RADM Mead said.
Toowoomba’s Commanding Officer, Commander Mitchell Livingstone, said the ship’s contribution to Exercise La Perouse would test the skills and experience of both the surface and underwater warfare operators.
“The opportunity to integrate with international partners in a Carrier Task Group is a highlight of the deployment and will provide the opportunity to demonstrate our skills to all the units involved,” CMDR Livingstone said.
During the exercise, the ships will conduct a wide range of activities, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security operations, sea control, anti-submarine and air-defence exercises.
Following the conclusion of Exercise La Perouse, Toowoomba and Collins will continue their deployment, conducting further bilateral exercises and international engagement with regional nations.
“This activity demonstrates Navy’s capability in operating with our regional partners, highlighting the importance of interoperability in promoting stability and security,” RADM Mead said. (Source: Defence Connect)
21 May 19. BAE Systems seeking RAAF pilots for Saudi Arabia training. BAE Systems Australia has called for Australian and New Zealand aircrew to apply for a T-21 Instructor Pilot role with the Royal Saudi Air Force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The role is advertised with a salary of over $346,000 per annum and is tax exempt, with a range of additional benefits, including travel allowance, an annual service bonus after two years, company-provided accommodation, schooling or full-time boarding school allowance for up to two dependent children, free health care in-Kingdom, plus excellent recreation and leisure facilities and approximately nine weeks of annual leave.
The recruitment criteria for BAE is as follows:
- Grand Total Flying: 1,500 hours
- Total First Pilot: 800 hours
- Total Instructional Experience 400 hours (On PC9/ PC21 or similar platform)
- Total Instructional Hours in last 12 months: 100 Hours
- Total Flying Hours in last 12 months: 100 Hours
- Maximum age on recruitment must be 52 or less
- Must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen
BAE Systems is holding two information sessions this week in Traralgon, Victoria, for parties interested in the role.
- Evening session on Tuesday, 27 May, 6pm – 8pm
- Morning session on Wednesday, 28 May, 9:30am – 11:30am
Military qualified instructor pilots and their partners are invited to attend the session to discuss the employment opportunity, as well as living and working conditions in Saudi Arabia. (Source: Defence Connect)
21 May 19. GeoSpectrum Technologies (GTI) launches a Multipurpose Autonomous Sub-Surface Training Target (MASTT) system that enables true to life and cost effective training experience of detecting and tracking submarines. MASTT will be showcased at the CANSEC exhibition held in Ottawa May 29-30, 2019 (Elbit Systems booth #1421).
Cost and technical capacity impede modern Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training as it often times involves operating of either real submarines or training targets which are of a limited transmitting capacity.
MASTT imitates submarines from conventional to nuclear with a variety of running modes of operation. The system can replicate a submarines’ acoustic signature. In this mode MASTT will transmit fixed frequencies, either independently, or when triggered by a received acoustic signal. Moreover, it can retransmit a synthetic echo of received acoustic signals while a Doppler shift can be also incorporated into the retransmitted echo, increasing or decreasing the intensity of the sound in line with the distance. Unlike most existing systems in the market these capabilities are available in both medium and low frequency bands. Answering the need for true to life training MASTT can operate in different running modes depicting standard submarine movement: Moving in a straight line in a fixed course, speed or depth, moving in a zig zag pattern with course alterations, a near stationary mode and a multiple course, speed and depth alterations.
Less than 3 meters in length and a little over 32 centimeters in diameter MASTT is suited for storage on an Mk 46 Mod 5 torpedo rack for quick launch and recovery as well as user friendly deployment for surface ship crew. MASTT is equipped with rechargeable batteries providing a minimum of 8 hour operation endurance at 4 kts cruising speed and only 3-4 hour charging time. A significantly cost effective system in both size and maintenance cost, MASTT provides the operators with a true to life flexible training experience detecting and tracking submarines.
Paul Yeatman, President of GTI, commented: “The MASTT training system provides operators the opportunity to cope with real-life scenarios at a fraction of the cost while contributing to the development of new ASW tactics. MASTT joins the GTI portfolio of advanced sub surface acoustic systems serving the defense, homeland security, Oil & Gas and environmental sectors.”
20 May 19. JLTV training kicks off at Fort McCoy. The US Army has begun training soldiers on the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Fort Mccoy in Wisconsin, the army announced on 15 May. Army Reserve instructors with the 94th Training Division – Force Sustainment were the first to begin training soldiers on the army’s newest vehicle in the first JLTV Operator New Equipment Training (OPNET) from 6-11 May.
The first JLTV OPNET course taught 32 students on the vehicle’s characteristics, operations, operator maintenance and safety. The students are required to operate the vehicle approximately 100 miles across multiple surfaces and scenarios, including steep slopes, tight turns, obstacles, rough terrain, city streets, night driving, highways and high-speed avenues.
The Army Reserve has procured 60 JLTVs to train soldiers and Department of Defense civilians. The 94th TD, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia, supports the 80th TC’s mission of more than 2,700 instructors providing essential training to DoD civilians and soldiers from the Reserve, National Guard and active duty. (Source: Shephard)
20 May 19. Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan offers air defence during Mare Aperto. The British Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan has performed anti-submarine and air defence training in Mare Aperto, the Italian Navy-led multinational maritime warfare exercise. Exercise Mare Aperto was conducted off the coast of Italy between 29 April and 10 May to promote interoperability and proficiency.
The Royal Navy warship joined 57 vessels, helicopters and aircraft from eight other countries carried out six anti-submarine and 11 air defence exercises.
As Exercise Mare Aperto moved through the Messina Straits, HMS Duncan provided air and surface defences.
In the scenario, Italy and Sicily played the role of allied nations while Sardinia acted as a hostile nation.
The allies sent an amphibious taskforce to Sardinia to regain control of the region. The Italian ship San Guisto and Spanish ship Galicia landed two battalions of marines on shore in order to achieve the task.
Duncan was tasked with providing protection against surface, sub-surface and air threats all through the ‘invasion’.
Exercise Mare Aperto principal warfare officer lieutenant commander Ben Dorrington said: “In an ever-unpredictable world, exercises such as this provide allied countries a key opportunity to develop their war-fighting capabilities.
“Most importantly, they demonstrate their resolve against an increasing range of threats.
“It is an ideal opportunity to align tactics and procedures within a task group in anticipation of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth carrier strike deployment in 2021.”
Before taking part in this exercise, HMS Duncan joined Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), which is one of four Standing Maritime Groups responsible for providing Nato with an immediate operational response capability. The British warship is set to re-join SNMG2 later this month.
Britain has six Type 45 Destroyers that are designed to perform a range of tasks, from handling threats from pirates to defending the fleet from air attack or providing humanitarian aid. (Source: naval-technology.com)
17 May 19. Multinational La Perouse exercises start in Gulf of Bengal. The US Navy and three other allied nations are taking part in La Perouse exercises in the Gulf of Bengal. French Navy aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) and its escort ships joined vessels from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and US Navy. The ships performed a series of drills that included formation sailing, live fires, communications, search-and-rescue, damage control, and personnel transfers. La Perouse is named in honour of an 18th century French Naval Officer and explorer.
French Carrier Strike Group commanding officer rear admiral Olivier Lebas said: “La Perouse is an opportunity to develop strong links, work habits and mutual knowledge essential for best practices between our navies operating in the same regions of interest.
“These exercises reflect our common involvement in maritime security in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific area.”
In addition to R 91, other vessels taking part in the drills include US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS William P Lawrence (DDG 110), a RAN frigate, HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156), submarine HMAS Collins (SSG 73), and JMSDF helicopter-destroyer.
US Seventh Fleet commander vice admiral Phil Sawyer said: “La Perouse shows that our maritime forces can work together well anywhere in the Indo-Pacific. It reflects our shared values, traditions and bonds as like-minded sea services.”
In a statement, US Seventh Fleet stated that such exercises allow allied maritime forces to undertake joint training and promote maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier this week, vessels from the US Navy and French Navy concluded a joint anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean.
The exercise was conducted to enhance unit-level training, improve the Charles de Gaulle Strike Group’s ability to respond to a submarine threat. In addition, the exercise allowed for increasing interoperability between the two navies. (Source: naval-technology.com)
20 May 19. ARH Tiger helicopter reaches important milestone. The Australian Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Tiger has joined two MRH90 maritime support helicopters during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 to train aircrew and ground staff for day and night deck-landing qualifications on HMAS Canberra.
Four Tigers from 1st Aviation Regiment at Darwin were on hand to assist the MRH90s with the training, and ARH pilot Captain Daniel Tidd said the opportunity to train on board had several benefits.
“Exercising with the Navy enables 1st Aviation Regiment the opportunity to work together to integrate the aviation and maritime assets,” CAPT Tidd said.
“It also allows our ground crew aviation support, maintainers and aircrew the opportunity to live, work and train on board in order to understand how we conduct sorties from the ship.”
After reaching certification for the Navy’s Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), the ARH would allow the Adelaide Class ships to become “completely operational as an amphibious platform”, a release from Defence said.
“Our aim is to replicate the mission profiles we conduct on land. From there we will be able to layer different operational components but adapt our point of origin to the maritime domain,” CAPT Tidd said.
“This is the first significant deployment for the ARH and 1st Aviation Regiment onto a maritime platform. It’s a big step that offers a lot more choices, broadens our capability and offers commanders options.
“The ADF’s amphibious capability with air-mobile and air-assault operations from a maritime platform is now a possibility.”
The Tigers are expected to carry out reconnaissance, escort and air mobile missions from both land and sea, and Commanding Officer of 1st Aviation Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Bartle, said the light-attack helicopters were on Canberra to transfer knowledge from test pilots and qualified flying instructors to operational crew.
“The key attribute the ARH brings to the joint environment is security,” LTCOL Bartle said.
“We are capable of performing a full range of reconnaissance, security and attack missions to provide a security bubble that the Joint Task Force can operate under.
“This is the last step in reaching final operational capability for the Australian Defence Force in achieving its amphibious deployment and sustainment system objectives in the maritime environment.” (Source: Defence Connect)
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Meggitt Training Systems, makers of FATS® and Caswell technologies, a division of Meggitt PLC, is the leading supplier of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training systems. Meggitt Training Systems continues to grow its capabilities based on the legacy of these two industry leaders.
Over 13,600 Meggitt live-fire ranges and 5,100 virtual systems are fielded internationally, providing judgmental, situational awareness and marksmanship training to the armed forces, law enforcement and security organizations. Meggitt Training Systems employs more than 400 people at its headquarters in Atlanta and at facilities in Orlando, Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, UAE, Australia and Singapore. It can deploy service personnel anywhere in the world for instructor training, system installation and maintenance. Learn more at https://meggitttrainingsystems.com/.
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