Sponsored by Meggitt Training Systems
https://meggitttrainingsystems.com/
————————————————————————-
25 Jul 19. Trainers for Sixth Generation Aircraft. AERALIS announced recently it would cooperate with defence experts to ensure that it can provide the training required for sixth generation fighter jets. The US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, China and Russia have already announced the development of a sixth generation aircraft pro- gramme. While these concept aircraft of the future will share many of the camouflage and other technologies of fifth generation aircraft such as the F35, their complex sensor, communication and weapon systems will place greater demands on pilots, making their training more challenging. In order to cope with increasing data volumes while simultaneously using the aircraft, sixth generation pilots will become increasingly interoperable with the aircraft itself. Integration between man and machine will be one of the dominant features of sixth generation fighter jets. Much can be learned in a simulator environment and AERALIS aims its training aircraft to enable budding pilots to bring all elements together.(Source: ESD Spotlight)
24 Jul 19. USAF conducts F-35A hot pit refuelling training exercise with RAF. The US Air Force (USAF) and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) have conducted a joint F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft hot pit refuelling training for the first time at RAF Marham, UK. During the joint training exercise, airmen assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, US, trained RAF personnel on the refuelling procedures. Hot pit refuelling is a technique that allows an aircraft to refuel without the need to turn off its engine. This approach enables the aircraft to resume its flight as quickly as possible.
75th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels journeyman Senior Airman Anthony Louden said: “It’s amazing that we have been given the opportunity to come to the UK and train with the airmen of the RAF.
“If one of our F-35s needs to refuel at an RAF base, we now have the confidence and trust that these guys know what they’re doing.”
The exercise was performed in preparation for future partnership capabilities between the two airforces. The training marks the first USAF F-35A refuelling for the RAF Marham Visiting Aircraft Servicing Section (VASS) team. As part of the training, the team had the opportunity to learn the safety and troubleshooting procedures, including emergency shutdown and evacuation processes.
VASS personnel Senior Aircraftman Technician Joshua Staff said: “We’ve not had the F-35s here very long and this is the first time we’ve gotten to work with the F-35A model. The US airmen were very professional and taught us exactly what we needed through a step-by-step process.”
Staff noted that the training allowed personnel to improve their ability to respond to operational mission requirements. Meanwhile, the USAF stated that bilateral training activities will enhance its interoperability with Nato allies. The F-35A aircraft arrived at RAF Marham airbase earlier this month to participate in joint training. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
24 Jul 19. Exercise Talisman Sabre 19: Japanese Self-Defense Forces take part. With Exercise Talisman Sabre 19 officially kicking off, Defence Connect will provide continuous imagery updates from the biennial exercise. This edition of the rolling coverage will focus on the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, which is taking part in TS19 after being invited by Australia and the US. TS19 is a bilateral combined Australian and US training activity, and is designed to practice the two countries’ respective military services and associated agencies in planning and conducting combined and joint task force operations, and improve the combat-readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces.
Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre is a major exercise reflecting the closeness of the alliance and strength of the enduring military relationship. TS19 is the eighth iteration of the exercise and consists of a field training exercise incorporating force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, land force manoeuvre, urban operations, air operations, maritime operations and Special Forces activities. Nearly 35,000 military personnel from the US and Australia are set to take part in what will be the biggest ever Talisman Sabre.
Historically, Talisman Sabre exercises have been conducted across northern and eastern Australia, and within Australia’s exclusive economic zone. Additional participants from third-party nations may participate or observe the exercise if invited.
Forces from Canada, New Zealand and the UK have received such an invite, with delegations from India and the Republic of Korea will also observe the exercise, with a total of 18 nations from across the Indo-Pacific invited to an international visitors program. (Source: Defence Connect)
24 Jul 19. US Army to begin construction on new DAGIR training facility. The US Army is set to break ground on a new Digital Air-Ground Integration Range (DAGIR) at Fort Knox in Kentucky to boost training capabilities. Construction of the proposed high tech live-fire range will start between September and October this year and is expected to be completed in 2023. The fully computerised training facility will be used by military personnel to ‘coordinate and practice accomplishing missions from the ground and air’ at the same time.
The new DAGIR system will be established at the Yano Range in an area of around 3,000 square acres. To allow construction work to begin, training missions at Yano Range have been moved to Wilcox Range. It is estimated that the project will cost nearly $52m, comprising $26m for construction and the remaining amount for instrumentation. It will be the second such range after the US Army established the first DAGIR focused on air-ground integration at Fort Bliss in Texas in 2012.
Fort Knox directorate of plans, training, mobilization and security installation range management officer Rodney Manson said: “This is a big project, probably the biggest in army ranges for the next four or five years.
“The range will include target devices, battlefield effects simulators, aerial weapons scoring system; all the stuff that goes into a DAGIR.”
The DAGIR range is a significant improvement compared to the current facility at Yano Range, which allows training using only one or two tanks at a time.
The facility will be able to accommodate individual and platoon tank gunneries, dismounted live-fire exercises, artillery fires, and several capabilities for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. It can serve as a venue to conduct aircrew qualifications. (Source: army-technology.com)
24 Jul 19. Tempo gathers pace as Exercise Talisman Sabre rolls into Bowen. Defence personnel from Australia, the US, Japan and the UK conducted a series of complex amphibious activities on Monday in the Queensland community of Bowen as a part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019. Over the past three weeks, training has been undertaken across Queensland and offshore by soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and airwomen with the landings at Bowen reaching a critical phase in the battle scenario.
Personnel from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and the British Royal Marine Commandos came ashore in an amphibious assault, while US Marines and Japan Self-Defense Forces concurrently stormed King’s Beach securing the site against a fictitious enemy.
Soldiers from all nations then moved throughout town on foot and by vehicle to secure other objectives and the community of Bowen.
Australian Army Colonel Stuart Kenny, Director of Joint Collective Training, said it was a culmination of the skills personnel have developed over the course of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
“This was a highly complex activity and we saw the hard work of like-minded nations working together on land, in the air and at sea,” COL Kenny said.
US Army Colonel Jeffrey Gottlieb, Deputy Director for Exercise Talisman Sabre, said the activity could not occur without the support and patience of the local community while personnel conducted these activities throughout July.
“I want to say thank you to the people of Bowen and to Queensland overall for their hospitability,” COL Gottlieb said.
Exercise Talisman Sabre 19 is a bilateral combined Australian and US training activity. TS19 is designed to practice respective military services and associated agencies in planning and conducting Combined and Joint Task Force operations, and improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces.
Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre is a major exercise reflecting the closeness of the alliance and strength of the enduring military relationship. TS19 is the eighth iteration of the exercise and consists of a Field Training Exercise incorporating force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, land force manoeuvre, urban operations, air operations, maritime operations and Special Forces activities. (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Jul 19. UMS SKELDAR partners with leading Swedish Aviation Technical Training School as part of initiative to increase standards across the industry. World-leader in pioneering maritime unmanned helicopters partners with Aviation Technical Training School to add weight to training scheme; in bid to develop standards as part of the upcoming Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) regulations.
Europe’s leading provider of Rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms, UMS SKELDAR, has partnered with the leading Swedish Aviation Technical Training School as part of its expanding training initiatives. In addition, UMS SKELDAR is working with the school to develop the highest quality UAV standards in a bid to pave the way for the impending regulations towards the end of 2019.
Currently, the regulatory landscape for operating UAVs is limited with many organisations looking to the manned aviation standards for guidance. However, this is set to change with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) currently developing regulations specifically for the UAV community in order to begin standardising working practices globally. As part of its work with the Aviation Technical Training School, UMS SKELDAR is at the leading edge of the technology innovations required to make this happen.
Per-Erik Cardell, Site Manager Sweden and Product Manager V-200 for the joint venture between Saab and UMS AERO GROUP, UMS SKELDAR, explains: “Over the last two years, we have experienced rapid growth both in Sweden and Switzerland. As a part of this expansion, we have developed a number of partnerships with institutions including the Aviation Technical Training School to not only bring in highly qualified talent, but also to help develop the regulations required to bring the unmanned sector up to the highest quality standards we all should live up to.”
The EASA has developed common European rules to apply the highest safety standards achieved in manned aviation, which it is applying to the UAV industry. The rules are based on an assessment of the risk of operation and strike a balance between the obligations of UAV manufacturers and operators in terms of safety, respect for privacy, the environment, protection against noise, and security. These new rules will cover each operation type from those not requiring prior permission, to those involving certified aircraft and operators, as well as minimum remote pilot training requirements.
Cardell adds: “Our partnership with the Aviation Technical Training School is proving to add weight to what we are trying to achieve. It is critical we take on fully qualified staff members in areas of flight maintenance and avionics systems. As we continue to expand, we need people who are not only fully qualified in the operation of unmanned helicopters, but also those that can feed into the critical high-quality standards we always adhere to in this dynamic and fast-changing technology arena.”
The Aviation Technical Training school is a university college specialising in helicopter technicians (Kat B1) and aeronautical engineers who work in maintenance organisations and perform repairs and supervision of aircraft. The education programme is in three parts: theory teaching, internships and learning at work. In addition to this, a degree project is included. The training is regulated by EU legislation within the European aviation regulations. After completing the approved training and internship, students achieve a certification that is recognised throughout Europe.
Over the last two years, UMS SKELDAR has recruited 10 students from the Aviation Technical Training School, including Pontus Johansson. “I spent two years studying to become a technician at the school, which I thoroughly enjoyed as it provided me with the tools required to take up my desired career in aviation. When I was offered a position with UMS SKELDAR, I jumped at the chance to join one of the world’s fastest growing UAV organisations. Overall, my role involves helping to manufacture the pioneering SKELDAR V-200, installing the avionics systems and mainframe. It is fantastic to be able to put what I have learnt into practice.”
22 Jul 19. US Army concludes ORCA 2019 CBRN training exercise. The US Army has concluded the biannual chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear (CBRN) threats response exercise, known as ORCA. The Alaska National Guard’s 103rd Civil Support Team (CST) took part in the ORCA 2019 exercise along with local emergency responders and other US National Guard CST units.
Units trained at different locations in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, including the Alaska State Fairgrounds, Palmer Fire and Rescue Training Center, Fire Station 6-2 in Wasilla, and the Alaska Railroad rail crossing at Pittman Road.
Alaska National Guard 103rd CST commander lieutenant colonel Mortrud said: “The goal of the ORCA exercise is to strengthen relationships between local first responders, civil support teams from other states, and the 103rd CST. This training environment is to prepare us in the event of a real-world or human-made disaster.”
This year’s exercise involved over 200 military and civilian personnel, including around 120 National Guardsmen from CST units.
The Alaska National Guard aviation battalion and the Joint Operations Center also participated in ORCA 2019.
Mortrud added: “The scenarios simulated in the exercise are numerous CBRN laboratory setups, along with the processing of intelligence to determine intended uses and locations for possible attacks. They help ensure the response community not only trusts each other but also understand the capabilities each entity will bring to a real-world event.”
CSTs are responsible for providing support to a local incident commander in determining the nature and extent of a CBRN attack or incident.
The teams also extended support in the form of expert technical advice on response operations. The ORCA exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability between different agencies. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Jul 19. Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group begins COMPTUEX exercise. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: US Navy photo by mass communication specialist 2nd class Michael H Lehman/Released. The US Navy’s Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) has started a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) ahead of a planned deployment later this year.
COMPTUEX will include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) and embarked Carrier Air Wing One; staff from Carrier Strike Group 8 and Destroyer Squadron 28.
Also taking part in the exercise will be the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and USS Farragut (DDG 99) will also take part in the exercise.
During COMPTUEX, the naval units will participate in high-intensity, real-world training scenarios. Normandy will join HSTCSG in the deployment.
USS Normandy commanding officer captain Christopher Stone said: “COMPTUEX is the advanced stage of pre-deployment training stressing the integration between strike group units.
“It is a living, growing scenario which dynamically evolves as the real world geopolitical environment changes. It is a great reflection of what we may see on our upcoming deployment across multiple potential theatres.”
COMPTUEX represents the final pre-deployment exercise and will be used to test the readiness of Normandy and its crew.
The exercise will include a range of simulated combat situations, including aircraft, submarine and missile attacks, ship casualties and engineering and communication drills.
Stone added: “We will conduct multiple live-fire exercises where we will flex the defensive capabilities of the ship.
“We will also complete multiple air-defence exercises, which are important to Normandy as the Air and Missile Defense commander for the HSTCSG.”
The exercise will involve underway combat stress training to prepare the crew to handle potential hazards on deployment.
The month-long COMPTUEX exercise seeks to fully integrate units of HSTCSG and assess the ability of the strike group to conduct sustained combat operations from the sea. It will focus on air warfare, strait transits, and responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks. (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Jul 19. Cubic signs extension for Australian simulation services contract. Cubic Corporation has announced that Cubic Defence Australia has received an extension as the contractor providing managed workforce solution for the Australian Defence Simulation and Training Centre (ADSTC) simulation support services (SSS). ADSTC designs and delivers end-to-end joint and combined training exercises using world-class simulations to enhance realism, stimulate command, control and communications as well as distributed mission training (DMT) for the Australian Defence Force.
“Cubic looks forward to continuing its close partnership with ADSTC and to growing its strong simulation support services team,” said Miles Macdonald, general manager, Cubic Defence Australia.
The SSS contract is a key enabler for the ADF’s future simulation capability. At contract signing, both Macdonald and Director General ADSTC Commodore Allison Norris, CSC, acknowledged the ongoing commitment of Cubic to supporting the ADF in the delivery of complex simulation enabled training events and the realisation of future training capability. The 18-month contract includes options for extension. (Source: Defence Connect)
————————————————————————-
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/.
————————————————————————-