Page 4 - AAPT August 19

Cover Story
LIVE,VIRTUAL

AND CONSTRUCTIVE

TRAINING

Chip Gilkison, threats from all areas of the globe, pilots to a situation where pilots cannot make
Director, Business Development, must be able to immerse themselves in use of the full capability of the aircraft
Live/Blended Test & Training a training environment that can more in an efficient manner, compromising
Collins Aerospace easily replicate real world threats. mission effectiveness. One concept
However, the requirement of pilots for F-35 training is to employ a “big
Militaries around the world predominantly shed” model whereby participants are
train their fighter pilots with live flight being located at a specific geographic required to operate at the same, albeit
exercises in order to be ready for location like a training range is very high, security level; however, this limits
combat when their country or Allies costly and takes a lot of time; time that the ability to train with other platforms
call. As you take delivery of your 5th they may not necessarily have. and partners operating at a lower
generation fighter like the F-35, many Cost prohibitive: security level thereby diminishes the
challenges exist with that approach that overall training value.
may preclude your pilots from training in Flight hour costs vary from $7,500- To overcome training shortfalls,
the most realistic manner possible and $50,000 for a given airframe. In order Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC)
becoming proficient in all the aircraft's to properly train our pilots, they must enabled systems may be utilized in a
capabilities, not just those in which "live" engage with "red" aggressor aircraft secure and dynamic environment. LVC
training adversaries are available. that emulate the enemy. Many times,
training missions are conducted within is not a new concept however there
5th generation aircraft cannot a single training squadron where aircraft has been a slow uptake due to concept
train like they fight: of the same type train against each of employment and technological
challenges. Given the world class
If an F-35 were to attempt to train with other. To fly a 2 vs. 2, air-to-air training ranges available across Australia plus
mission, four aircraft must be employed,
any other aircraft besides another F-35 costing anywhere from $45,000 to over significant investment in cutting edge
from the same country, the other aircraft $200,000 for 5th gen platforms. Not only simulation architectures via JP9711, the
would be blind from any simulated is this training cost prohibitive, it's not potential for LVC is very exciting. New
weapon shots and absent from real realistic. In a real operational mission, systems must easily interoperate with
time notifications, enabling negative friendly forces will combat enemies that existing systems in order to maximize
training to continue. Other aircraft do are not of the same aircraft type as their investments. Standards such as TENA,
not have the security protocols onboard own. In a training mission, we must be HLA and DIS must be employed to
required to share the same data as an able to replicate the same operational ensure interoperability is possible
F-35. For now, the F-35 is limited to scenario as close as possible so that our instead of empty promises. Any attempt
training in multi-ship events with either warfighters can train like they fight. In an to delay the transition of training in a
like F-35s or with other aircraft, but age where affordability is close behind more secure environment in anyway
only via relayed voice call to emulate readiness, we cannot continue to train other than the most realistic scenarios
weapon releases. in this manner. We must make better possible will only lead to continued

Rapidly emerging threats: use of the flight hours we do have. To do training shortfalls.
Collins’ Joint Secure Air Combat
this, Air Combat Training must evolve.
In 2003, pilots needed to be proficient Australia has specific challenges in Training System (JSAS) was the first
in less than five weapon systems on that the procurement of the F-35 fifth to demonstrate an LVC training exercise
their own fighter. Today's 5th generation generation platform could result in a with certified Multiple Independent
fighter has more than four times that, but training shortfall where users cannot Levels of Security (MILS) encryption in
flight hour budgets are not increasing. train as they would fight due to security both the airborne and ground systems
In order to meet the rapidly emerging protocols. This training shortfall will lead with over 32 digital channels. For

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