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30 May 19. Meet the Tutor II. Leonardo is displaying a model of its M-345 training platform, which it is calling Tutor II in the Canadian setting. The name references the long-serving Canadair CT-114 Tutor that still provides the mount of the ‘Snowbirds’ display team.
As well as positioning the M-345 as a candidate to fill some of the platform requirements for Canada’s forthcoming Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) requirement, Leonardo (Booth 1511) is promoting the Tutor II as a natural replacement for the current ‘Snowbirds’ aircraft, which have only a few years of service remaining. The M-345 has been been selected by the Italian ‘Frecce Tricolori’ team.
Leonardo Canada is one of the qualified suppliers listed in December 2018 for the FAcT programme, but the nature of the requirement, and of the company’s response, has yet to be finalised. In the meantime, Leonardo’s aircraft division is marketing the aircraft to all potential FAcT bidders, which comprise Airbus, Babcock, Lockheed Martin, SkyAlyne (CAE and KF Aerospace), and Leonardo itself. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
30 May 19. US-led exercise Northern Edge 2019 finishes in Alaska. US-led joint military training exercise Northern Edge 2019 (NE19) has concluded in Alaska, with more than 10,000 military personnel involved.
Northern Edge is Alaska’s largest biannual joint-military training exercise. This latest event saw the participation of a Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier for the first time in ten years.
NE19 began on 13 May and was conducted to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Indo-Pacific region.
The training exercise also included the navy’s aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and select ships from Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG-9), as well as 250 aircraft from the US Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy.
Hosted by US Pacific Air Forces, NE19 involved more than 60,000 miles of airspace throughout Alaska.
Destroyer Squadron 23 commodore captain David Fowler said: “We, as a navy, need to get acclimated to these regions and work in a joint environment to gain a better appreciation for what our sister services do and what they bring to the table, because should we ever need to truly defend our nation against adversaries, it is going to take all of us working together to achieve that objective.”
During the exercise, Theodore Roosevelt personnel and Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) worked on honing their skills and practised operations and techniques.
In addition, CSG-9 had the opportunity to boost relationships with other US military branches.
CSG-9 commander rear admiral Daniel Dwyer said: “Northern Edge was special because it took the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group away from our home waters into an operating area we’re not used to exercising in.
“The training we received in the Gulf of Alaska will make our strike group a more capable, ready, and lethal naval force.”
For the US Navy, the exercise proved the ability of CVN 71 to operate in the Indo-Pacific region and perform operations around the world.
Personnel from various military branches operated as an integrated taskforce in the exercise to enhance multi-service integration.
Such exercises help maintain the US commitment to ensuring the Arctic remains conflict-free, Dwyer added. (Source: naval-technology.com)
29 May 19. Exercise Diamond Storm 2019 wraps up in Northern Territory. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed the large force employment exercise Diamond Storm 2019 in the Northern Territory.
Exercise Diamond Storm is the final stage of the three-phase Australian Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) designed to test candidates in high-end combat scenarios. AWIC is set to formally conclude marked by a ‘Dawn Strike’ off the coast of Newcastle, Australia, on 31 May.
More than 2,000 personnel, 100 aircraft and the next-generation of airforce Air Warfare Instructors participated in the exercise.
Candidates who attended AWIC were assessed in academic and practical activities for a period of six months.
Graduates from the course will have the ability to integrate combat functions across a range of specialisations, said Exercise Director group captain Matt McCormack.
McCormack said: “It has been a very busy month at RAAF bases Darwin and Tindal as we reach the conclusion of this specialist course that has tested the candidates in a range of high-end warfighting scenarios.
“We come to the Northern Territory as it has extensive airspace to conduct military training, as well as two substantial air weapons ranges.
“Diamond Storm has seen course members plan and execute offensive counter air scenarios using just about every aircraft in our airforce, as well as some from the US Air Force and US Marine Corps, and a range of specialist ground-based enablers and Royal Air Force capabilities.”
The first phase of the course began in January with Diamond Seas. The exercise involved a maritime-focused scenario with navy and army elements.
Personnel then took part in Diamond Shield defensive counter air exercise from RAAF bases Amberley and Williamtown.
AWIC saw participation from RAAF personnel and platforms, including F/A-18A/B Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, C-130J Hercules, P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail.
Other assets that participated in the course include airforce intelligence and air battle managers, Hawk 127, C-17A Globemaster, and KC-30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
28 May 19. Virtual Reality System for UAS at Defence Show. On May 29, 30 and 31, Star Defence Logistics & Engineering (SDLE) will present in Madrid, at the International Fair of Defence and Security (FEINDEF), its latest developments in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for military and civilian security use. Aeronautica SDLE will show at FEINDEF its immersive learning system supported in augmented reality to train UAS pilots specialized in intelligence and recognition operations.
Thanks to its commitment to innovation and integration of the latest technologies, by 2018 SDLE was acknowledged by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities as Innovative SME. The Madrid-based company is expanding its facilities and has recently launched two new departments, Optronics and Electronics and Communications Security, which join the company’s Engineering Department for the development of logistics support software for military operations.
Virtual reality for UAS management
The SDLE Drones Division, Aeronáutica SDLE, is specialized in UAS development, manufacturing and integration. The company will show at FEINDEF its immersive learning system to train UAS pilots specialized in intelligence and recognition operations. It is a system supported in virtual and augmented reality, with which users can learn the aircraft performance and also experience a first-person flight simulation at indoor spaces and critical scenarios.
Another outstanding equipment manufactured by Aeronautica SDLE is the Portable Antidrone Security System. It is an antidrone system capable of neutralize an unlimited number of drones, a more and more necessary capability given the increasing criminal use of drones and the danger that these will be used as swarms.
Aeronautica SDLE designs software for different missions on customer request and investigates to adapt the potential of drones to social needs in civilian use. In addition to its UAS range -available for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations (ISR), emergencies and inspection of critical infrastructures- the SDLE drone division offers customized autonomous solutions which increase or improve the reach of human capabilities and eliminate risks for people at difficult to access environments or with high exposure to harmful agents. (Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
24 May 19. UK-led JEF begins first major maritime training deployment. The first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has started with exercises across Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea region. The exercises are intended to strengthen European security and stability. Known as Baltic Protector, the JEF deployment will involve a total of 3,000 military personnel and 17 vessels from nine nations.
Last week, the Royal Navy’s HMS Albion was deployed to the Baltic Sea to lead the multinational task group.
Alongside the UK, other participating nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
Baltic Protector is said to the largest UK-led operational deployment of a military force in Europe for decades.
UK Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster said: “From Denmark to Lithuania, from Sweden to Estonia, Baltic Protector will leave potential adversaries in no doubt of our collective resolve and ability to defend ourselves.
“This force is a key component of European security, a force of friends that complements existing structures and demonstrates that we are stronger together.”
The deployment will involve three phases. The first will be integration training in the western Baltic and eastern North Sea.
The JEF will also support existing multinational organisations next month. The task group will join the US-led Exercise Baltops, taking part off Germany and Sweden.
During the final phase of the deployment, the JEF link up with land forces in the eastern Baltic, including the UK-led battlegroup in Estonia. The task group’s activities during this phase will involve a series of shore landings and raids. Launched in 2015, the JEF is an adaptable high-readiness force that can be deployed to almost anywhere.
The joint force can perform multiple operations, including combat operations, deterrence, or humanitarian support. (Source: naval-technology.com)
27 May 19. QuantaDyn updates QFires PT-100 JTAC system. QuantaDyn has upgraded its QFires PT-100 portable Joint Target Attack Controller (JTAC) system and showcased it at the 2019 International Training and Education Conference (ITEC), which was held in Stockholm from 14 to 16 May.
Originally launched in 2016 as the Z-Box and subsequently rebranded as part of the QFires product line, the system uses the same JTAC training software and technology as the mobile and desktop QFires variants and in the large static systems in use with the US and NATO forces.
The PT-100 is a self-contained system that can be packed into two airline transit cases. One contains a trainee station and the other the instructor operator station (IOS).
The trainee station has an integrated projector and a multi-function emulated military equipment (EME) device for surveillance and target acquisition (STA). The projector provides a view of the battlefield on a portable screen, while touch-screen monitors offer a simulated video downlink from the aircraft and enable the trainee to interact with the information.
The IOS enables the instructor to control the scenario. It has an integrated targeting pod feature that enables the trainee to perform target talk-on to aircraft and work target correlation with the instructor. The station can be configured with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) pilot controls, enabling the instructor to “fly” the aircraft and perform an out-of-the-window talk-on with the trainee.
The updated version is still contained in two transit cases but has been lightened to meet commercial aircraft check-in limits. The central processing unit (CPU) power has been increased. The system is now agnostic to the image generator (IG) and computer-generated forces (CGF) it can use but was demonstrated at the 2019 ITEC with Virtual Battlespace (VBS) Blue IG from Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim). (Source: IHS Jane’s)
28 May 19. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) missiles played vital roles in the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO military exercise called Formidable Shield 2019, which took place off the coast of Scotland and included scenarios of no-notice target launches. During the event, the Standard Missile-3 was fired at a simulated target.
Raytheon’s Standard Missile-2 and Evolved SeaSparrow Missile engaged targets simulating anti-ship cruise missiles. The real-world training exercise enabled Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States to improve interoperability and practice defeating threats in a live environment.
“Exercises such as Formidable Shield 2019 provide an opportunity to demonstrate effective collaboration in the battlespace,” said Dr. Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Strategic and Naval Systems vice president. “Raytheon missiles and naval defense systems offer a trusted shield of protection for the military assets of the United States and its allies.”
The SM-3® interceptor is used by U.S. and Japanese navies and is operational at a land-based site in Romania. The SM-2™ and ESSM® missiles provide layered defense for the U.S. and allied navies.
23 May 19. French Air Force introduces new UAV pilot training scheme. The French Air Force is ramping up the recruitment and training of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crews to cope with the service’s expanding air vehicle inventory. While the 1/33 Belfort UAV squadron currently flies five GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs using 20 qualified crews (with each crew consisting of a pilot, sensor operator, tactical co-ordinator and image analyst), the plan is to have 24 MALE UAVs operational by 2030, generating a requirement for 80 to 100 crews. The greatest urgency is to train the pilots to cope with this expansion, so the air force is introducing a new course into its flying schools alongside those already existing for fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters. The first phase of training will fall under the responsibility of the Centre d’excellence drone (CED) in Salon de Provence, southern France. The CED, which until now was more oriented towards research, thus sees its mission considerably evolve. During this phase the students will fly Cirrus light aircraft and receive some specific training, especially in relation to instrument flight rules (IFR). The second phase will then take the student pilots to the air force flying school in Cognac, where they will improve their piloting skills on the Grob 120 basic trainer. They will then move on to the UAV Operational Conversion Squadron (Escadron de Transformation Opérationnelle Drone – ETOD) and the 1/33 Belfort to acquire the particular tactical know-how required to operate the Reapers. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
27 May 19. Swedish Army showcases StrisimPC training system. The Swedish Army showcased its StrisimPC simulation system at the 2019 International Training and Education Conference (ITEC), which was held in Stockholm from 14 to 16 May. StrisimPC is a simulation tool for individual and crew skills and low-level command training. Each installation comprises several networked computers together with game controllers and hand controls. Its core software is Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) from Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), which is supplemented by specifically developed applications to support training on particular platforms and weapon systems.
These include the CV9040 infantry fighting vehicle, the Archer self-propelled howitzer, the CV90 forward observation vehicle, the Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station (RWS), and the RBS-70 air-defence missile system. High-fidelity hand controls have been developed for use with these applications.
Forward observer (FO) and forward air controller training is supported by a combination of VBS FiresFST and Simcentric Fires software, customised for the Swedish army.
The system includes various terrain databases including Sweden, Iraq, and Mali, and the fictional country of Chernarus, which is modelled after eastern European terrain. It enables instructors to create scenarios and features a comprehensive library of models. This supports recognition training and includes Russian army platforms.
There are both fixed and mobile variants of StrisimPC. The fixed version comprises up to 44 networked trainee stations with individual access to simulated radio, digital maps, headsets, and control hardware. Each installation, of which there are 17 across Sweden, is supported by two instructor stations plus servers and data storage. The instructors have access to presentation facilities for after-action review (AAR).
The mobile version has 16 networked laptops that are packed in transit cases. There are eight of these versions. A total of 700 trainee seats are available across the army. Besides specific skills training, StrisimPC is used for collective tactical training up to squad level and for command training up to company level. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
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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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