Sponsored by Meggitt Training Systems
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05 Jun 20. Meggitt Training Systems wins Canadian Armed Forces small-arms trainer service and support contract. Meggitt Training Systems has been awarded a US$4.4m contract extension from Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence, to provide in-service support to the Canadian Armed Forces for Meggitt’s Small Arms Trainer (SAT) and Indirect Fire Trainer (IFT). The original contract won by Meggitt Training Systems (Quebec), a subsidiary of Suwanee-based Meggitt Training Systems Inc., began in June 2015 and includes operator and maintenance support for related training activities, incorporating onsite support for health, usage and equipment monitoring at major bases across Canada.
“Our FATS® line of small-arms training simulators provide the highest levels of realism for marksmanship, judgmental and collective training,” said Andrea Czop, vice president of strategy, sales and marketing for Meggitt Training Systems. “From military-certified ballistics to lifelike video-based scenarios, we deliver as the system of record in Canada, the United States and allied nations around the world.”
The Meggitt SAT simulator system supports individual and group training across the spectrum of military, paramilitary and security operations. Meggitt’s IFTs are used to train soldiers in forward observer, fire direction and mortar crew skills proficiency.
“Meggitt has been a proud supplier of weapon simulation to the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 20 years,” said Ed Duckless, president of Meggitt Training Systems (Quebec). “We remain a committed partner supporting the operational readiness of Canada’s soldiers, sailors and airmen with advanced simulation and training systems.”
04 Jun 20. RAF 45 Squadron concludes training of pilots at 3FTS. The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) 45 Squadron has concluded the training of 15 pilots at No 3 Flying Training School (3FTS).
The pilots were presented with their wings in an event conducted at RAF College Cranwell.
Each student completed the Multi-Engine Advanced Flying Training.
The graduation ceremony was carried out before an Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft. Over the past year, some of the pilots received training in this aircraft.
The remaining students were trained as part of an RAF Outsource initiative, carried out by L3. These students received training in flying Diamond DA42 aircraft.
All students have now moved to their respective Operational Conversion Units. They will receive training on the RAF’s front-line aircraft.
The Hercules at RAF Brize Norton and the Poseidon at RAF Lossiemouth will be used for the training.
RAF Commandant 3FTS Group Captain Nixon said: “Today marks the transition for the graduating pilots out of the flying training system and it is a huge privilege to be able to award the RAF flying badges.
“I thank the instructors and staff of No 3FTS and L3 Harris at Bournemouth for their hard work and dedication.
“Despite the challenging times that we currently face, it is as important as ever to make sure that we continue to provide trained aircrew to the RAF Front Line on time and to the highest of standards.”
Earlier this month, the RAF Typhoons and Reapers conducted four separate airstrikes to support the Iraq Government’s fight against the terror group, Daesh.
The strikes were conducted over northern Iraq and all targets were successfully hit. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
02 Jun 20. USAF B-1B Lancers integrate with Ukrainian and Turkish aircraft. The US Air Force (USAF) Ellsworth Air Force Base’s (AFB) two B-1B Lancers have integrated with Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers and MiG-29 Fulcrums, and Turkish KC-135 Stratotankers during Dynamic Force Employment mission. The mission was conducted throughout Europe and the Black Sea region.
Additionally, USAF Lancers integrated with Polish F-16 Fighting Falcons and MiG-29s, and Romanian F-16s and MiG-21s.
In the Black Sea region, the Lancers escorted and provided combat patrol.
During the 12,200 nautical mile mission, spanning 29 hours, the B-1 bombers also joined Greek F-16s for an air policing overflight of Skopje in North Macedonia.
The mission demonstrated Ellsworth AFB’s ability to respond to any potential challenge across the globe.
To successfully conclude the mission, the Lancers were provided with aerial refuelling support by British, Turkish and American KC-135s based out of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK.
USAF 28th Bomb Wing commander Colonel David Doss said: “That is what it takes to conduct the outstanding work and accomplish the achievements seen over the last month.
“Whether at Ellsworth (AFB), or at the air operations centres that support these missions, or with our sister services, allies and partners … none of this would be possible without teamwork.”
Upon arrival of the aircraft, post-flight activities were conducted by maintenance personnel. Specialists gathered data from the aircrews.
The personnel faced additional challenges due to the restrictions imposed following the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
To limit large gatherings, the aircraft maintenance unit spread aircrew operating in three shifts to among six shifts.
USAF 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron lead production superintendent Sergeant Daniel Youngblood said: “Social distancing has resulted in huge changes in the maintenance community, especially on the flightline.
“We have had to develop B-1 specific and tool decontamination procedures, slim down on shifts and learn to maintain operations with minimal capabilities.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
04 Jun 20. Jolly Green II and Apache helicopters complete joint test mission. The US Air Force’s (USAF) new combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60W Jolly Green II, has undertaken a joint mission with the army’s multi-role combat helicopter, the AH-64 Apache.
The two aircraft, which flew together for the first time, landed at the Duke Field runway in Eglin Air Force Base (AFB).
The AH-64 Apache from Redstone Army Test Center in Alabama, US, flew in for system testing with HH-60W Jolly Green II.
USAF 413th FLTS HH-60W lead test engineer Christopher Martin said: “The unique configuration of the AH-64 Apache gave our team the opportunity to test capabilities of the HH-60W in ways normally not possible here.
“Tests like these will ensure the Jolly Green II will be able to perform its critical combat search and rescue mission when fielded in the joint warfighting environment.”
The joint tests mission marks another milestone in Jolly Green II’s development.
Earlier this year, the Jolly Green helicopter conducted extreme environment, communications and defence system testing.
Led by 413th FLTS, other participants in the HH-60W integrated test team include Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Detachment 2 and Air Force Operational Test Center.
HH-60W test programme manager Shawn Hammond said: “We are very proud of the work our integrated test team accomplished in 2020 despite a myriad of operational restrictions due to Covid-19.
“The team’s success is due to a mission-focused mindset to ensure the crews flying the Jolly Green II into combat have the most reliable and capable helicopter for the job.”
In February this year, the USAF revealed the name of its latest HH-60W combat rescue helicopter at the 2020 Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida, US.
Known as Jolly Green II, the helicopter’s name honours the crews who pioneered the practice of aerial search and rescue missions. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
02 Jun 20. The British Army’s apprenticeship centre of excellence 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment (1 RSME Regt) is resuming its trade training programme after providing Covid-19 support to the service. The regiment trains Royal Engineer recruits in various trades such as fabricating, welding, electrics, plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration and more. 1 RSME has implemented a range of protocols, measures and procedures in the workshops, classrooms and training facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of the students and instructors. (Source: army-technology.com)
02 Jun 20. U.S. Navy Selection For Helicopter Training Program Yields Growth For Triumph. Triumph Group (NYSE:TGI) congratulates AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (dba Leonardo Helicopters) on being selected by the U.S. Navy for the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) program. Per the recently announced contract, Leonardo will produce 32, TH-73A helicopters, a variant of the AW119, for the AHTS Program. Triumph Systems & Support – Mechanical Solutions operating company is the incumbent supplier of cockpit and engine controls, providing these mechanical controls on the AW119 for more than 20 years.
Triumph will work with Leonardo to supply the mechanical controls of AW119 as they deliver the AHTS to serve the rotary and tiltrotor training requirements for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The statement of work for the TH-73A will be carried out at the Triumph Systems & Support’s Mechanical Solutions sites in North Wales, Pennsylvania and Shelbyville, Indiana. The new aircraft will be built at Leonardo’s FAA-certified Part 21 production line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“As the incumbent supplier of control systems for the AW119, the new work in support of the TH-73A facilitates the organic growth of our business,” said Ian Reason, President of Triumph Mechanical Solutions. “We are thrilled to be able to support Leonardo as they fulfill the production requirements for the U.S. Navy Advanced Helicopter Training System program and to be a part of the AHTS program that will provide critical training for pilots in multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.”
Triumph Mechanical Solutions is a long-time supplier of cockpit and engine controls to Leonardo, providing the mechanical controls for the AW139 and A109 platforms in addition to the AW119. The flight systems Triumph manufactures control the pitch and roll of the helicopter and is used to maintain rotor speed and keep the aircraft stable.
Triumph Group, Inc., headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, components and structures. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators. (Source: PR Newswire)
29 May 20. Exercise to unite four combatant commands to test homeland defenses for the first time. For the first time, four U.S. combatant commands are coming together this week for an exercise that simulates how the military would respond to an attack on its home turf.
Headed by U.S. Northern Command, the four-day exercise began this week off the east coast and also involves U.S. Space, Transportation and Strategic commands, according to NORTHCOM.
The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman strike group and its air wing will join Canadian fighter jets and Air Force F-15s in conducting intercepts against adversary aircraft during the exercise, which began Thursday and will wrap up Sunday.
This week’s exercise continues a long stint at sea for the Truman’s crew.
The ship left Norfolk in September for its third overseas cruise in the past four years.
While the strike group’s deployment began to wrap up this spring, it spent its time as a rapid-response force at sea instead of pierside in order to protect the crew from exposure to COVID-19.
An Air Force B-1B bomber will be used as the enemy aiming to infiltrate U.S. airspace as well. Along the way, brass hope the exercise can strengthen the military’s ability to communicate and share real-time information in such a scenario, according to NORTHCOM.
U.S. Transportation Command is providing refueling tankers along the coast to support defending forces during the exercise, and Space Command is providing satellite communications and GPS.
“Leading complex multi-combatant command operations across multiple domains demonstrates our readiness to defend our homeland regardless of COVID-19,” Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the head of NORTHCOM, said in a statement. (Source: Defense News)
01 Jun 20. Cubic Awarded Contract to Support British Army Training. Cubic Global Defense to continue providing Area Weapons Effects Simulator Systems Training Support.
Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced Cubic Defence U.K., which operates within its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division, was awarded a contract worth more than $35m, to continue its support for the training of the British Army. The three-year contract is for support and repair of the Area Weapons Effects Simulator (AWES) System at Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) in the United Kingdom and at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada.
“We value our longstanding partnership with the British Army and we are pleased to continue our training support,” said Mike Knowles, president of Cubic Global Defense. “This contract award extends the work we have accomplished together to effectively advance the British Ministry of Defence training experience and standard.”
AWES and its integrated Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) system simulates large-scale force-on-force combat exercises, including the effects of direct fire, artillery, mortar fire, mines and air-delivered munitions as well as nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. AWES also tracks and monitors the actions and positions of more than 1,400 individual soldiers and 250 vehicles using GPS technology, records “hits,” “kills” and “near misses” of small-arms fire with Cubic’s Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) technology and recreates combat exercises for post-mission analysis. Cubic developed and installed the AWES system under a contract awarded in 1998. Installation work was completed at the 150-square mile Salisbury Plain training area in late 2002 and the following year at BATUS, a sprawling 1,100-square-mile training area that the British Army leases from the Canadian government for combat exercises. (Source: ASD Network)
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Meggitt introduces the next generation of immersive training — the FATS® 180MIL.
Delivering 180° high definition projection and 5.1 surround sound, the FATS 180MIL increases training realism, heightening awareness and proper use of force responses. Three borderless screens fit into almost any space with at least a 10’ tall ceiling, providing a 150” X 84” (16:9 aspect ratio) borderless projection surface. It also includes:
- Military Validation – The same high-fidelity ballistic engine validated by the US Army, USMC and other military customers.
o Provides accurate ballistic characteristics in flight.
o Supports and enforces the proper fundamentals of marksmanship.
- Immersive Training – Supports both 3D Marksmanship and Judgmental training.
- Courseware – Delivered with full array of training courseware.
- Hit Detection System – Three digital cameras interface directly with Off-CPU real-time (OCR) processor used by FATS® 100 system for easy upgrade path.
- Projectors – Ultra short throw projectors provide freedom of movement, displaying stunning visuals in 180°environment.
- Low-Light Subsystem (optional) – Practice in simulated low-light conditions with hand-held and weapon-mounted flashlights.
- Rack – Uses same transportable rack as the FATS 100 system.
- Realistic Sounds – Self-powered audio system plays scenarios in 5.1 surround sound. Using directional sound effects board, the instructor can incorporate unsettling sounds from any direction, including barking dog, crying baby, gunshots and more to elevate situational awareness.
- Supports up to 60 simulated weapons, including FATS weapons and ammunition types. Up to 4 simulated weapons can be assigned to a single user.
With the FATS 180MIL, users feel they’re in the action, facing decision-making pressures while maintaining situational awareness.
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