Sponsored by Meggitt Training Systems
https://meggitttrainingsystems.com/
————————————————————————-
22 Aug 19. Ravenswood to provide MARTE-O AR training system for Dutch Army. Ravenswood Solutions has secured a contract from the Royal Netherlands Army Command to provide a kit for modular augmented reality tracking equipment for observers (MARTE-O).
MARTE-O is an augmented reality (AR) system that enables training of military forward observers.
The system has a power-efficient and wearable design. The solution comprises a binocular module, head-mounted display, sensor and graphics modules, and a tablet device to operate the system.
Ravenswood developed MARTE-O in partnership with SRI International and Lockheed Martin under a contract with the Office of Naval Research for use by the US Marine Corps.
MARTE-O is positioned as a cost-effective training solution and can simulate vehicles, aircraft and munitions.
AR plays a key role in training fire observers and tactical air controllers. It can be used anywhere and enables troops to train with convenience and accessibility.
The technology allows forces to operate without range, weather or aircraft and munitions ability boundaries.
Forces can make use of the MARTE-O kit to train at actual ranges in adverse conditions in areas such as calling for close air support (CAS), artillery, naval gunfire, and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).
The system will also allow training on non-traditional ranges such as an urban metropolis or a no-fly zone.
Observers will have the opportunity to gradually and exponentially improve their skills with each evolution.
Troops can train regularly as opposed to once a year. MARTE-O will also allow troops who are not specialised fire observers or controllers to undergo training for incidental fire support.
In a statement, Ravenswood added: “Finally, MARTE-O conserves financial and environmental resources while contributing to a safer, controlled training environment.”
The company noted that the solution will transition observers from classroom Virtual Reality (VR) simulators to personnel-worn AR devices. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Aug 19. Belgian Army contracts Saab for Gamer mobile combat training centre. The Belgian Army has awarded Saab an SEK160m (USD17m) contract for live training systems, the company announced on 19 August. The equipment is to be delivered in 2021. Under the contract Saab will provide its Gamer mobile combat training centre (CTC) with a laser-based tactical engagement simulation system (TESS). This will include personal detector devices and BT47 small-arms laser projectors for infantry use, and the BT46 Mk III vehicle system that includes wireless-networked detectors and the compact ballistic laser (CBL) for remote weapon stations. The CBL will also be supplied for shoulder-held anti-tank weapons. The BT46 Mk III supports simultaneous detection of dual SISO and MILES laser codes. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Aug 19. UNITAS LX annual multinational maritime exercise begins. The 60th edition of the UNITAS LX annual multinational maritime exercise has commenced off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Hosted by the Brazilian Navy, UNITAS LX (60) will involve more than 3,100 naval troops from 13 nations. Participating navies are from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, the UK and the US.
The forces will focus on demonstrating regional maritime cooperation in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) response scenario, with the aim being to showcase their ability to build a multinational maritime task force.
The exercise will involve both Atlantic and Amphibious phases and will run until 30 August. The US Navy’s Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) is participating in UNITAS.
Speaking to the troops at the opening ceremony, US Southern Command commander Admiral Greg Faller said: “Trust is the building block of our ability to work together as a team. When I look at you, when I see the ships, the staffs, I know you are professionals that represent democracies that fight for freedom.”
The objective of the multinational exercise is to train navy and marine corps to conduct joint operations. The maritime exercise is designed to enhance security cooperation and increase interoperability among partner countries.
This year’s exercise will involve 14 surface vessels, eight helicopters, five fixed-wing aircraft, and one submarine.
In July this year, 13 nations completed the Pacific phase of UNITAS multinational maritime exercise. The exercise was hosted by Chile and involved the participation of ten warships and eight aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Aug 19. Australian Army undergoes drone training. Over 1,000 Australian Army soldiers have now received drone education training from UAVAIR. UAVAIR is providing drone training at 11 locations across the country in support of the Army Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Drone program.
“UAVAIR have significant expertise in commercial drone training and the continuation of the contract with the Australian Army UAS/Drone program is recognition for the skills and capability that UAVAIR provide in delivering industry leading drone training across Australia,” UAVAIR general manager David Mann said.
The drone training contract for the Australian Army began last year, and has provided additional jobs and opportunity for the emerging Australian drone industry, as UAVAIR has been able to expand its instructor pool in this emerging technology space.
“UAVAIR is enhancing the contribution and development of the Australian defence industry and we are very honoured to be part of the work force behind the Defence Force, in this case to deliver drone training to the Australian Army,” Mann said.
“We are very well positioned to provide supplier training to other government and emergency services agencies, education providers and schools around Australia.”
Australian Army Unmanned Aerial Systems, Staff Officer Grade One, Lieutenant Colonel Keirin Joyce said that he thinks UAVAIR’s point of difference is its flexibility and recommended its drone training services.
“UAVAIR was chosen through an open tender to be our training service provider,” LTCOL Joyce said.
“I think they would be an excellent, flexible collaborator for any emergency services provider, or schools or anybody else that’s looking to develop their own multirotor unmanned aerial systems capability or projects.” (Source: Defence Connect)
21 Aug 19. Malaysia enhances naval, coastguard interoperability with US. Key Points:
- Malaysia and the US have concluded a maritime exercise that saw inaugural participation of vessels from the respective countries’ coastguard services
- The activity is in line with the US Coast Guard’s intention to expand its engagement with partner countries across the Asia-Pacific region
The naval and coastguard services of Malaysia and the United States marked a new level of maritime interoperability between the two countries with the conclusion of a bilateral exercise known as the ‘2019 Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia’.
The drills, which are an evolution of the annual ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)’ series of naval exercises between the two countries, were concluded after five days of various activities in and around waters off Lumut, Malaysia, on 18 August. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
21 Aug 19. Defence and technology company, MASS, has successfully developed and supported the delivery of the Advanced Command & Staff Course (ACSC) Management of Defence ‘Ends’ Module Capstone Exercise at the UK Defence Academy based in Shrivenham.
The ACSC, which runs for 44 weeks, focuses on ‘Ends’, ‘Ways’ and ‘Means’ Modules and aims to help participants develop the skills necessary to solve the complex defence and security problems they will experience as they progress through their careers. The ‘Ends’ module explores how policy and strategy is formulated and executed from a practitioner’s perspective. It also intends to deepen participants’ understanding of cross-government working at the national strategic level.
Steve Townsend, Head of Training Support group at MASS said, “We were delighted to support the Capstone Exercise. The MASS exercise design concept is based around the challenges of working at cross-government level and allows participants the opportunity to use their strategic decision-making and policy formulation skills to solve complex defence and security related problems.
“The exercise was set in the real world – as opposed to virtually as is the case with many wargames – and in an environment that highlights a range of issues beyond the traditional confines of defence and security. The key differentiator of the exercise is that it is managed and not choreographed – with exercise staff lightly steering participants rather than directing to ensure that the actions of the participants determines the outcome of the course.”
An extensive programme, MASS began planning the exercise eight months ago with the company working under ACSC direction to develop robust fictional scenarios able to meet the training requirements of the Management of Defence Module. Scenario development involved creating the appropriate ‘catalysts’, set in a real world near future context, to generate exercise game play. To accompany these scenarios MASS produced a wide range of exercise support documentation: including departmental and country briefs, Wikipedia-pages, national and strategic digests; as well as guidance for participants on strategic analysis and briefing skills.
20 Aug 19. US and Nato allies conduct exercise Icelandic Air Surveillance. The US Air Force (USAF) airmen from the 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base (AB), have worked together with Nato allies for exercise Icelandic Air Surveillance (IAS) 2019. IAS 2019 involved providing air surveillance and interception coverage over Keflavik AB in Iceland between 29 July and 10 August. The exercise is intended to enable pilots to do scramble alerts and get their flying certifications for intercept missions. It was also conducted to maintain the integrity of Nato airspace.
480th Fighter Squadron IAS 2019 mission commander captain Dominic Collins said: “This mission is a commitment to enhancing regional security. The US routinely trains with its European counterparts and has been participating in this IAS mission since 2008.
“Conducting missions with our Nato allies demonstrates our shared commitment to peace and better prepares us to respond to a range of potential security and humanitarian emergencies we may face in the future.”
Scramble alerts assess the time taken by pilots to get from ground to air. As part of the certification, pilots took part in launch processes and prepared for takeoffs.
Collins added: “Certification means that we have proven that we can respond to an alert call within minutes. We can quickly have air power in the sky to respond to real or potential threats. It’s a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our crew here in Iceland.”
The process involved coordination between pilots and airmen responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft.
The mission of the deployed personnel and F-16C fighter aircraft was also to meet the peacetime preparedness needs of Iceland. The USAF and eight allies have conducted air surveillance missions over Iceland since 2008 in support of Nato commitment to the region. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
20 Aug 19. Saab to deliver complete combat training centre for Belgian Army. Swedish company Saab has received a contract worth around Skr160m ($16.53m) from the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver training systems to the Belgian Army. Saab will provide a complete training centre with infantry and anti-tank simulators. The facility will also have vehicle and communication systems that will allow users to control, monitor and collect training data for detailed analysis of training exercises. Saab will start deliveries in 2021. The company stated that it expects to negotiate a support contract separately. The contract will ensure interoperability with Nato and enable Belgium to take part in multinational exercises.
Saab Dynamics training and simulation head Åsa Thegström said: “This means Belgium will share the same standards as members in the interoperability user community (IUC). They can, therefore, take part in multinational exercises together with, among others, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK and the US 7th Army.”
The company’s training and simulation business unit produces military training equipment such as laser simulator systems, instrumented training systems and target equipment.
Saab Europe France and Benelux country unit head Henrik Vassallo said: “The Belgian Army has used our training systems for the last four years and have clearly seen the benefits of realistic training.
“This order strengthens our position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of solutions for combat training.”
In March last year, Saab received an order to provide support and update of simulators to the Netherlands Army’s Mobile Combat Training Centre.
The company delivered the training centre in the early 2000s. (Source: army-technology.com)
19 Aug 19. Kosovo Task Force Aviation performs multi-aircraft training operation. Kosovo Task Force Aviation has carried out a multi-aircraft training operation along with Nato partners from the Croatian Air Force at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. This operation was carried out on 6 August. It is intended to boost interoperability between Nato partners whilst preparing TF Aviation for future operations. TF Aviation’s 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment battalion commander Lt Col Christopher Buck said that the task force’s mission is to provide KFOR airlift and air medical evacuation assets for safety and mobility and support, which in turn will support the total NATO mission in Kosovo.
Buck added: “We contribute to both freedom of movement and a safe and secure environment within the KFOR area of responsibility.”
This operation represents the first joint exercise between TF Aviation and the Croatian Air Force since KFOR 26’s Multinational Battle Group East rotation commenced last month.
TF Aviation’s 1-171 Avn Reg Chief Warrant Officer 2 and instructor pilot Stephen Gayton said: “It was definitely a learning experience for us to see how our partner nations operate. How they fly their aircraft, as well as their overall capabilities, is important if we have to operate [with them] in the future.”
The training involved Black Hawk helicopters, UH 60, and Croatian Hips transport helicopters, MI 17.
Flight patterns allowed the two Black Hawks to lead and swap flight positions during the training event.
Gayton added: “It’s absolutely important that we have as many flights as possible in the area. That way we will be ready to support any mission set.”
Gayton said this operation boosts mission readiness, as well as the interoperability level with partners, including the Croatians. He added: “We even had a discussion earlier about expanding our mission sets and the different types of missions we can support now that we’ve had this joint training with the Croatian partners.” (Source: army-technology.com)
————————————————————————-
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/
————————————————————————-