Shillington Police Department received funding for advanced firearms training software that allows officers to practice shooting simulated silhouettes with programming capability to customize shooting scenarios to mimic the layout of local schools.

The DART Firearms Simulation Training System will enable the small department to improve its training operations and increase officer readiness. The virtual design means live ammunition is not needed for training, increasing officer safety during training, as well as bypassing the amount of funding and resources needed for traditional live training sessions, officials said.

The system offers advanced simulation training, including hover silhouettes and live decision-making scenarios.

The $13,300 for the system was provided by the Shillington Lions Club and includes a matching grant from the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.

“We didn’t just give those funds to the police department,” Dan said.
Lubas, Shillington Lions board member. “We have donated these funds to over 5,000 Shillington residents, as well as members of nearby communities who will all benefit from the advanced police training this system will provide.”

The donation was officially made at a check presentation ceremony Thursday night at Shillington Memorial Park at the Shillington Lions Clubs first meeting of the year.

The Shillington Lions Club is a service organization providing and
meet the needs of all individuals in local communities. Locally, Shillington Lions organize collections, donate and provide direct service.

Shillington Police Chief Brett Hivner expressed his gratitude on behalf of the department and the community.

After learning about this training system, he said he was unsure if it would even be practical to present it in a future budget proposal, as the small borough has limited resources. He said the new training tool will provide invaluable opportunities.

Hivner said his department would eventually invite neighboring police departments to use the software for training.

BREAKING: Army aims to deliver key training system 4 years early

Photo: Army

LONDON – Senior Army leaders are asking the office responsible for developing the service’s simulation technology to deliver its new synthetic training environment four years ahead of schedule.

Karen Saunders, director of the simulation, training and instrumentation program, said April 26 that the Army’s new training system – originally slated to go live in 2028 – now has a fourth quarter deadline. of the 2024 financial year.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll get there,” Saunders said at the IT2EC conference in London.

The Army Needs Board approved the fresh start, which was then approved by Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Joseph M. Martin, she told a roundtable. at Europe’s largest annual training and simulation conference.

The Army is pushing its program offices to execute its six major modernization programs as soon as possible. The priorities are: long range fires, next generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift, network, air and missile defense and soldier lethality. The synthetic training environment falls under the lethality of the soldiers. Army Futures Command leaders have pledged to deliver 24 key weapon systems to soldiers by 2023.

Two of the 24 systems under this deadline are building blocks for the STE, the immersive Integrated Visual Augmentation System Squad trainer and the One World Terrain simulation software.

About a year ago, the military moved the deadline for the new training system by a year to 2027, she said. Now, “they challenged us to deliver a [system] in one of our combat training centers by 2024,” she said.

“We have good momentum with industry,” she said, noting that the next “touchpoint” – when soldiers get a chance to try out prototypes and provide feedback – will come in about nine. month.

To help PEO STRI achieve this, it has established a Strike Agile Acquisition Response Team, or STAAR team, she said. “We’re leveraging this team, bringing in experts from across my PEO to see how to deliver our synthetic training environment live capability nearly four years ago,” she added.

The STE trains soldiers in 12 different tasks, which include skills such as direct and indirect fire, she said.

“We look at specific technologies and then determine how we can bring together the best of breed so that the industry is allowed to compete at all times,” she said, noting that the PEO issues contracts in cycles of three. months to speed up the process.

Industry is expected to present its offers three months later, with soldiers allowed to try them out for feedback, she said.

One such system in need of an update is the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, MILES, a laser tag-like technology that has been widely used by the U.S. military, its allies, and law enforcement for several decades. , to simulate real shots.

Saunders said PEO STRI is investigating an alternative technology “right now.”

It could be a laser or an optical system, she noted. The system must be built in such a way that it can evolve with technological developments, she added.

Topics: Training and Simulation, Army News

DOHA, ($1 = 3.64 Qatari riyals) — The months-planned purchase of M-346 training aircraft from Qatar has finally taken place. Leonardo, its manufacturer, agreed to deliver half a dozen of these aircraft to the Qatari Air Force, learned BulgarianMilitary.com, citing InfoDefense. Various Italian media reported last November that Qatari authorities were planning the purchase of an undisclosed number of devices, coinciding with a visit by Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Gerini to Doha, the Middle Eastern capital.

It is now the international media Defense News which has published the final purchase, citing a spokesperson for the transalpine company as a source. This operation also describes the agreement already implemented for the training of Qatari pilots in Italy, within the framework of the international school opened by Leonardo and the Italian Air Force, in which Germany and more recently the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces [JASDF].

The M-346, as the model is called in the Italian armed forces, which also acquired Poland, Israel and Singapore, is ready to train future crew members on such advanced fighter aircraft as the European Eurofighter, the Gripen and the Rafale, and the American F-16, F-18, F-15, F-35 and F-22.

M-346 Twin-Engine Transonic Advanced Jet Trainer

For its creators, Italian development is “the most modern air simulator available today and the only one in the world designed to train pilots who will fly next-generation high-performance military aircraft.” To do this, it is equipped, among other achievements, with a digital avionics system fully reproducing the one used in modern fighter planes.

The M-346 is based on the Russian Yak-130 design, as its genesis is part of a joint initiative between Alenia Aermacchi [part of Leonardo] and Yakolev. The plane has a length of 11.5 meters and a wingspan of 9.7 meters and can fly at transonic speeds [between 980 and 1230 kilometers per hour] without the need for post-combustion. Its operating ceiling is 45,000 feet [13,700 meters above sea level].

A key feature of the M-346 is the Integrated Tactical Training System [ETTS]. The ETTS can emulate various equipment, such as radars, guidance capsules, weapons and electronic warfare systems; in addition, the ETTS can interact with various munitions and other on-board equipment.

The system can operate in stand-alone mode, in which simulated data and scenario information, with threats and targets, is loaded before take-off, or in a network in which data is received and operated in real time by ground monitoring stations via the aircraft’s data link.

ETTS can generate realistic computer-generated forces [friends and enemies]. For post-mission evaluation and analysis purposes, accumulated data, such as video from the optional helmet-mounted display, can be retrieved and viewed.

In addition to Italy, Israel, Poland, Singapore and Italy, months ago it turned out that another country also acquired the Italian model, and that could be Qatar, although some experts think it’s Turkmenistan. On the other hand, two years ago it became known that Azerbaijan was proceeding with the purchase of several units. Spain also believes that the M-346 is the best option to replace the Spanish Air Force’s older F-5 fighters.

***

Follow us anywhere and anytime. BulgarianMilitary.com has a responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile device or web browser. For more news, follow our Google News, Youtube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Subscribe to our Newsletter and read our stories in News360App in App store Where google play or in FeedlyApp in App store Where google play. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical principles.

The Navy’s first TH-73A Thrasher arrived at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Fla., Aug. 6, 2021. The TH-73A is assigned to Training Air Wing 5 and will replace the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger as an undergraduate rotary and tiltrotor helicopter trainer for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

The Advanced Helicopter Training System Team, part of the Navy Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273), executed its Advanced Helicopter Training System Acquisition Program streamlined to ensure the Navy has the capability to train the largest training pipeline for Chief of Navy Aviation Training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field through 2050. Completing multiple competitive contract awards in just one year and half, the team was named the Navy’s Competitive Excellence Acquisition Team of the Year.

(US Navy photo)

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland – The Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) team, part of the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems (PMA-273) Program Office of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), has been named the Competitive Excellence Acquisition Team Navy of the Year for its Streamlined Acquisition Program. to achieve the C/Full Rate Production milestone and four contract awards (three competing) in just a year and a half.

“The AHTS team’s ability to execute an aggressive schedule while tailoring policies to our needs has saved us nearly $287 million for the Navy,” said Christina Hall, who accepted the award and served as the team’s assistant program director at the time of the contract. execution. “We are now able to train the largest training pipeline, equivalent to several hundred aviation students per year, for the Chief of Naval Aviation Training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.”

The three competitive contract awards for the AHTS system of systems included: a full and open competition for the TH-73A Thrasher helicopter; full and open tender for the crew training systems contract; and a fair opportunity competition for contractor logistics services. As part of the full and open competition, the program has challenged industry competitors to earn single-engine instrument flight rules certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for the first time in more than 30 years, opening up competition with single-engine helicopters. This industry in a hurry to come up with a helicopter suitable for naval training that has been fully FAA certified before delivery. The program purchased 130 all-commercial, non-derivative trainer helicopters, awarded under original budget, which met the accelerated procurement schedule and positioned the fleet to successfully meet transition timelines.

The AHTS team is one of six NAVAIR teams to win a Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Award this year from among 170 nominations from across the Navy.

Airmen from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron traveled to the North Dakota Air National Guard Regional Training Site in Fargo, ND to see the new Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery (RADR) training system in use for the first time.

RADR is a process that ensures that if a major airfield is attacked, Airmen will have the tools and knowledge to know what to do and restore the airfield to a fully functional state.

“The idea is that if we’re at a deployment location and our runway is hit, we need to be able to get out and fix it in a quick time frame so we can fight off the enemy,” Captain Casey Parks-Garcia said. . with the 90th CES.

Although FE Warren Air Force Base does not have a flight line, many of the 90 CES Airmen deploy. While these skills cannot be used at a home station, being ready for anything helps make the Air Force versatile.

“One, we don’t realistically expect anyone to put holes in our CONUS tracks, and two, FE Warren doesn’t have a track, to begin with,” Parks-Garcia said. “As such, we don’t have any of the heavy equipment or materials needed to complete this training, and because CE has so much repair and maintenance to do to keep FE Warren up and running, it’s quite difficult for us to book time to actually accomplish this training.

Without this training, Airmen could find themselves in a situation they are unable to handle.

“Without it, many of our Airmen could have descended without having practiced the RDR process, and they could have been asked to perform a complicated procedure in an emergency situation without having seen it before,” Parks-Garcia said.

Amentum has been awarded an agreement to develop a prototype of its Force-on-Force synthetic training environment live training system solution by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Training. instrumentation using the Training and Readiness Accelerator consortium.

Under the other transaction authority, Amentum will implement new sensor-based technologies directly on the weapon and create a prototype of the next generation of force-on-force training.

“As part of this agreement, we are developing solutions that help the military exceed its modernization and training requirements,” said Paul Cummings, vice president of transformational training at Amentum. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to revolutionize live training systems for our fighters, improving their efficiency and interoperability.”

Amentum leads a team of federal technology and service providers, including FN America, Cole Engineering Systems, Cornet Technologies and SoarTech. Together, the team’s sensor-based technology combines integrated optics with computer vision software that mounts to the rail of a weapon system. It provides trainers and drill control officers with real-time feedback of the shooter’s performance.

The U.S. Army has issued a source search notice to help its Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation maintain the branch of service training aids, devices, simulators and simulations under a scheduled renewal contract.

PEO STRI said in a new RFI posted Tuesday on the SAM beta website that its TADSS Support Operations Program Manager is seeking details on maintaining TADSS lifecycle management, systems and ranges. instrumentation, as well as related services in support of the company’s global training support system. of the Army.

Market research responses will provide the military with information on industry management information system best practices and inform the service branch’s decision to launch a full and open competition or seek a small business reserved for TADSS Maintenance Program renewal contract.

ATMP2 will cover sustainment and training services for over 400 types of TADSS installed worldwide and support future synthetic training environment devices.

The program is expected to have approximately $4 billion in funding from fiscal year 2025 to 2035 and include a six-month phase-in period. Full execution of the contract will follow after the six-month effort.

Responses to the second RFI are due June 4. The Army issued the first advisory on February 8 and provided TADSS examples.

MERSIN, Turkey — Turkish Aerospace Industries has converted its Simsek training system into a kamikaze drone.

The High-Speed ​​Target Drone System program began in 2009 to meet the Turkish military’s training needs against aerial targets, simulating enemy aircraft or missiles. It was created as a high-speed, turbojet-powered platform with a top speed of 400 knots (740 km/h) that could fly at an altitude of 15,000 feet.

Temel Kotil, the head of TAI, said in an April 25 interview with CNN Turk that the system can now be used as a suicide drone.

“It can carry 5 kilograms of explosives and it can travel around 100 to 200 kilometers when launched from a UAV. We produce 100 Simsek drones per year,” Kotil said.

TAI did not provide additional details about the change.

Until 2020, Simsek participated in military exercises with a catapult system, but last year TAI integrated Simsek with its battle-tested Anka drone.

Simsek’s kamikaze variant is not quite a wanderer ammunition like Harop, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. It was designed to simulate an airplane; his speed and agility are better than trailing ammo, but Harop is bigger, has a longer range, and can carry more explosives. However, Simsek is cheaper and easier to produce.

With the addition of optical sensors and data link capabilities, Simsek could be used for loitering. But these additions would negatively impact flight performance and increase costs.

Simsek’s integration with larger combat drones, like TAI’s Anka and Aksungur, provides improved range and speed. Launched from a drone, Simsek can be used as a decoy to confuse opposing air defenses. Adding explosives is a bonus, but 5 kilograms wouldn’t be enough to incapacitate an opposing armored unit.

The kamikaze version of the Simsek would be ready for operational use; however, TAI is still working on improving its payload and maneuvering capabilities.