10 Jan 24. Taiwan’s AIDC develops new trainer aircraft. Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) has completed the first stage-design of a new basic trainer aircraft, the company announced on 10 January. The basic trainer – which AIDC plans to introduce into the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) by 2033 – aims to replace the service’s 36 Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor trainer aircraft, which have been in service since 1984. AIDC said it is seeking government approval and funding to continue the programme. “If the government can [support] the … project, AIDC will be able to start the second phase of detailed design, with the first flight in three years and mass production starting in six years,” the company said. It added, “This can meet the [RoCAF’s] demand for a basic [trainer] replacement in 2033.” In a document provided to Janes by AIDC, the company said the new basic trainer will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68B free-turbine turboprop engine, which has a rating of 1,193 kW (1,600 shp). (Source: Janes)
02 Jan 24. New in 2024: USMC field new, more realistic shooting simulators. The Marines plan to field a new force-on-force shooting simulator in 2024 that will replace the 1970s-era technology that’s reached its service limits. The new system underwent testing in December 2023 and is planned for fielding first at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
Following that fielding, Marine spokeswoman Morgan Blackstock said, the Corps will then field the system to Camp Pendleton, California, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
The Corps first announced the Force-on-Force Training Systems-Next program in 2021 after beginning to seek a replacement for the Instrumented Tactical Engagement Simulation System, or ITESS, the replacement for the legacy Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, or MILES, in 2017, Marine Corps Times previously reported.
The Force-on-Force Training Systems-Next system has since been renamed the Marine Corps Tactical Instrumentation System, or MCTIS.
That year Army officials announced the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System would become obsolete by 2026. The Army currently is seeking its own replacement for the legacy shooting simulators.
Saab Inc. won the contract, potentially worth up to $248 m in 2021. Marine Corps Tactical Instrumentation System uses vests equipped with sensors to detect not only hits and misses but also track movement and location data.
That information can be used for real-time tracking during training and after-action reviews using playback features. Such features will allow trainers and observers to accurately analyze user performance in force-on-force training.
In early testing, the system could track the muzzle direction of Marines moving up floors of a building in an urban training site.
The new system also aims to solve some training challenges with both MILES and ITESS. Both are laser-based.
Lasers do a lot of things, but simple physics prevents users from accurately replicating bullets and other projectile ballistics.
The first generation ITESS could handle 120 Marines and opposition forces, the second generation expanded that number to 1,500.
Each Marine Corps Tactical Instrumentation System will have the capacity to handle a battalion-on-battalion fight, or an estimated 2,500 users, Marine Corps Times previously reported.
For instance, users cannot lead a moving target when firing a laser, which is a must for hitting targets with real projectiles. Lasers can’t simulate indirect fire such as mortars or artillery. And even the slightest of disturbances, such as tree leaves or shrubs can stop the laser from connecting with its target. (Source: Defense News)
29 Dec 23. Italian firearms and tactics specialist chooses SA made firearm laser training system. Cape Town-based electronics design and manufacturing company will supply a complete firearm laser training system to Italian firearms and tactics specialist SIRT.
Jacstech’s Jorgen Neilson said in a statement the Gordon’s Bay company, manufacturer of Keiron prosumer laser targets and Keiron PRO laser target systems, was excited to work with “acknowledged training experts” at the Perugia SIRT facility.
Of the Keiron PRO system, he said its flexibility allows it to adapt to virtually any training scenario. “With state of the art programmes and a base of highly experienced instructors, feedback from the SIRT academy will inevitably lead to further product innovation in the Keiron PRO system and products.”
The system is an “advanced one”, the statement has SIRT Academy Chief Executive, known as “Instructor Zero”, saying, with a computer timer able to track every shot on every target as well as precise timing, split and transition times. He adds: “It is quick to configure the range for a specific training need”.
The system supplied to the Italian specialist operation allows for dynamic firearm and tactical training to be done safely, using laser equipped training firearms. In addition to conventional training, the system allows for low-light training with targets that respond to the training firearm’s green lasers but block infrared aiming lasers and infrared illuminators used for low light vision.
Keiron PRO systems are used daily around the world for training law enforcement, competitive shooters, security firms and private citizens, Neilson said. In the United States (US) Keiron PRO systems are used by federal and local law enforcement agencies. Other countries using Keiron PRO are in Europe, the Middle East as well as New Zealand.
Jacstech is the South African representative for SIRT as well as CoolFire laser training firearms and recoil systems. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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