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2017-03-07
The Future of Military Flight Training
Flight training establishes both basic and advance skills for new and current pilots, some of whom might be about to enter front-line flying squadrons. Given the complexity of both modern aircraft and the scenarios they operate in, pilots need to be fully prepared to both fly and fight in the most effective way.
Trainers face the challenges of reduced budgets and rising costs to train and equip pilots.
In light of this, training doctrines and their application need to be re-imagined to incorporate new training styles, as well as highly advanced technologies. This allows pilots to quickly become accustomed to their specific aircraft, and therefore able to complete missions successfully, all at a reduced cost and with greater results.
UK’s new training plans
The UK’s new Fixed Wing flying training system provides modern training aircraft and up-to-date ground-based training devices, such as simulators and classroom learning, for aircrew across the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps.
A £1.1 billion contract has been placed with Ascent Flight Training to design, deliver and manage the Fixed Wing training service until 2033.
The UK’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme aims to meet the training needs of UK air support across the Air Force, Navy, Army and Joint Forces Commands from 2020, progressively replacing existing contracted and military service provision, as these programmes expire, or reach their planned end of service date.
In June 2016, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) described what the UK Military Flight Training Systems Project Team would be seeking from the new multi-phased programme. These requirements – still subject to refinement – currently cover the provision of live flying assets to meet training requirements for air to air combat; air to surface combat; joint terminal attack controller / forward air controller (airborne); electronic warfare; air traffic control, ground based air defence and aerospace battle management; and live gunnery.
Under current planning assumptions, the programme will be delivered in incremental phases. Phase one will be introduced from 2020 for 15 years (at an estimated value of £750m); phase two could add another £300-500m over the remaining eight years.
With the formal competition set to be launched in 2017, industry players are already lining up to bag this coveted contract.
Training Companies Eye ASDOT
At the 2016 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), CAE and Draken International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue global opportunities related to the provision of advanced adversary and aggressor air training services.
This new MOU expands on an existing agreement in Canada, where the two companies are currently pursuing the Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) programme.
CAE and Draken will explore collaborative development and pursuit of integrated live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training in areas such as air combat support, contracted adversary and aggressor air training, embedded simulation, tactical training, threat simulation, and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training.
The two companies anticipate pursuing global opportunities in markets including the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe; Australia and other parts of Asia/Pacific; and North America.
The team is also believed to be vying for the lucrative ASDOT program.
Draken has unrivalled experience and capabilities for live adversary and aggressor air training as evidenced by its role providing similar services to the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
QinetiQ, Thales and Textron AirLand
QinetiQ, Thales and Textron AirLand have announced a collaboration that will bid for the UK Ministry of Defence’s upcoming ASDOT programme. This is the second team to declare, following the RIAT announcement that CAE, Draken International and Babcock International were set to bid.
The three companies met at Farnborough International Airshow 2016 to announce a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting the foundation for the bid.
The operational training activities that will comprise the ASDOT programme are currently fulfilled by a number of providers, both military and civilian.
This team is proposing an innovative, cost effective, technologically-advanced reliable managed service using Textron AirLand Scorpion jet, equipped with Thales and QinetiQ sensors to provide a broad spectrum of training for all three armed services.
The competitive contract, expected to be awarded in September 2018 with a service delivery start in Jan 2020, is anticipated to be worth up to £1.2 billion over 15 years.
QinetiQ offers safe operation of a highly capable mixed fleet of Scorpion and other platforms – including maintenance and provision of pilots. Its proposal will include integration of sensors and jamming pods into the aerial fleet, and aircraft certification, ensuring compliance with military air worthiness regulations.
The solution will include provision for the introduction of synthetic operational training and airborne aerial target capabilities.
Thales’s breadth of training service provision for air platforms spans jet fighters, tactical transporters and helicopters to refuelling aircraft. It brings extensive experience in delivering fully managed training services and engineering bespoke high fidelity training equipment such as full mission simulators for leading air platforms such as A400M, Voyager, Tornado, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Hawk and Eurofighter.
It will also offer a range of sensors optimised for situational awareness, threat replication and targeting training, as well as electronic warfare.
Victor Chavez, Thales UK CEO, said: “Through this partnership, we have the opportunity to offer all three armed services the most effective, cutting-edge technology coupled with world-leading training and services expertise.”
Textron AirLand’s Scorpion jet was selected by QinetiQ and Thales after a comprehensive analysis of more than 50 aircraft, based on its multi-mission capability, unparalleled acquisition and operating costs, and a dispatch reliability rating exceeding 98 percent.
Scorpion’s Skill
Designed and built with leading-edge technologies, the Scorpion is a bold new direction for tactical aircraft. The aircraft is versatile in terms of mission flexibility, with a centre payload bay, six hard points, high dash speeds and extended endurance and loiter time at cruise speeds. The Scorpion is built to excel in many roles, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, armed reconnaissance, maritime and border patrol and jet training missions.
Scorpion is jet fast – with the ability to get to an escalating situation quickly – yet can maneuver at much lower speeds, if the mission requires it. Quickly reconfigurable, Scorpion’s interior payload bay is provisioned for sophisticated ISR systems. Plus, Scorpion is capable of being weaponised using a variety of weapon sets, including precision guided munitions (PGMs) for precision strike.
While on mission, Scorpion brings the ability to see and exploit perishable intelligence and strike fleeting targets, bringing tactical advantage to even the most demanding situations.
The aircraft can download 4thand 5th generation training tasks, and has dual cockpits with a modular adaptable mission system to allow pilots in many aviation disciplines to train across jet operations , employing multi-spectral sensors and precision guided weapons.
Inzpire and Discovery Air Defence Bid
Inzpire Limited and Discovery Air Defence Services (“DA Defence”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery Air Inc, have joined forces to bid for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) programme. The two companies will combine their unique capabilities in the live training environment to deliver an innovative, relevant and safe training solution for the UK Ministry of Defence.
Inzpire has expertise in team and collective training. It provides an independent exercise management team to the RAF’s Air Battlespace Training Centre, as well as supplying expertise within the RAF’s Air Warfare Centre through the management of large scale live training exercises.
Inzpire’s Qualified Helicopter Flying Instructors instruct the British Army Apache Attack Helicopter and Wildcat Helicopter Conversion-to-Type and conversion to role courses.
With the world’s largest privately-owned operational fleet of aggressor aircraft for air support, DA Defence is among the most experienced providers of turnkey air support for militaries worldwide.
DA Defence’s mix of modern fighters and special mission aircraft equipped with radar, sensors, EA, and targeting capabilities will deliver the mission profiles, flexibility, and availability demanded by ASDOT.
“We are pleased to formalise our relationship with Discovery Air Defence. Its proven track record in providing ASDOT-equivalent services and excellent flight safety record make it an ideal partner for this programme,” said Hugh Griffiths, CEO of Inzpire Ltd.
Paul Bouchard, President of DA Defence, said: “Discovery Air Defence is very excited to join forces with Inzpire. The combined strengths of our two companies are uniquely suited to meet ASDOT requirements, and to serve the British Armed Forces’ evolving live-fly, tactical training needs well into the mid-2030s”.
Ascent
Ascent, a 50/50 joint venture between Lockheed Martin UK and Babcock, has worked with the MoD on the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme since 2008, when it was awarded a contract to deliver comprehensive training to all new UK military aircrew across the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps. With an initial contract valued at £635m, it was estimated that the total investment in the programme would rise to around £6bn over its 25-year course.
The UKMFTS programme
Under UKMFTS, Ascent is responsible for designing the overall system and delivering training, including delivery of a proven training management information system and procuring aircraft platforms and simulators.
The first phase of the contract covered the provision of the UK’s Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) based around the Hawk T2 Advanced Jet Trainer, ordered by the MoD in 2006.
In addition to encompassing computer based training / computer aided instruction, new infrastructure, a training management information system and Ascent-qualified instructional staff at RAF Valley, Ascent delivered ground based training equipment comprising two full-mission simulators, six flight training devices, ten desk top trainers and mission brief/debrief facilities.
Looking toward the future
Under the current contract, Ascent will be responsible for the delivery of UKMFTS until 2033, at which point all assets will revert to MoD ownership, and a decision will be taken on how to proceed, either under a new contract with Ascent, or under a different industry partner, or for the MoD to operate the system itself.
The decision will depend on how the programme rolls out over the coming 17 years, and how output matches up with requirements and expectation.
It’s a lot to deliver on, but early signs are promising - this is a model with great potential to improve the training of front line personnel for the UK’s armed forces.
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