Continued Deployment of A-10 Full Mission Trainers to United States Air Force for Close Air Support (CAS) Training

In early 2004, the U.S. Air Force purchased 26 MetaVR visualization software licenses for fielding at new and existing A-10 simulation facilities for conducting close air support (CAS) training. This brings the total to 76 channels of MetaVR visuals that have been fielded for the A-10 Full Mission Trainers (FMT) program. CAS exercises demonstrate the feasibility of conducting distributed mission training over encrypted commercial Internet bandwidth.

As part of systems being fielded, Barksdale AFB, LA, received two new five-channel visual systems to upgrade existing legacy simulators with out-the-window and sensor channels. As well, the three existing MetaVR-based A-10 sites at Boise, ID, Battlecreek AFB, MI, and Bradley AFB, CT, received additional visual channels.

	VRSG rendering of an A-10 entity flying over MetaVR's virtual Baghdad. Click to swap the visual and wireframe views. Click Zoom to see an enlarged version.

	Image/view statistics for the Baghdad image above:
		Far horizon FoV Polygon count Display Color depth Frame rate Graphics card Dynamic models System		= 75 km = 60 degrees horizontal = 701375 = 1200 x 1920 pixels with 4xFSAA = 32-bit = 60 Hz = ATI Radeon x1950 512 MB DDR memory = 468 = MetaVR IG Cube

CAS training background

The focus in CAS training is the coordination of munitions delivery with the goal of minimizing friendly fire casualties. Effective CAS training systems combine three core components beyond the conventional cockpit simulator:

• Ground/dismount assets
• Sensors (C4ISR) on station
• Forward air controllers

Visual realism is the bridge that brings the logical complexity of these scenarios directly to the pilot, the UAV operator, and the driver or special operations personnel. MetaVR visualization systems are used throughout these core components as one interface to the trainee. An example of this is shown in the image above, a screen capture from a MetaVR VRSG image generator overlooking the streets of Baghdad.

Initial implementation of CASNET

The versatility of the distributed CAS training was demonstrated in 2003 in a proof-of-concept exercise for live, virtual, and constructive urban CAS scenarios. These scenarios also included combat identification of friendly forces. The Air Force Research Lab in Mesa, Arizona ran the enhanced Ft. Benning database in its A-10 full-mission trainer (FMT) simulators connected to a long-haul encrypted (Taclane KG-175) DIS network. A virtual forward air controller (FAC) and a live FAC were simultaneously situated within Ft. Benning (the former on virtual terrain) and connected to the encrypted network.

MetaVR's enhanced Ft. Benning database including the McKenna MOUT site.

The virtual scenes of the included MOUT site (shown in the image above) were nearly identical to the live scene for the live FAC. Visual fidelity was such that the live FAC looking at the real world was able to communicate with the virtual A-10 pilots down to the level of directing the pilot to see “the small dirt road next to the tree line” because of the significant correlation. The FACs (both live and virtual) communicated targets to the A-10 pilot through the encrypted network and the targets were hit with multiple munitions types. The Litening II sensor pod and Maverick video were correlated with the out-the-window view and enabled the pilot to identify and attack targets at long ranges while maintaining safety zones around friendly forces tracked with the combat ID mechanism.

Distributed mission training

The success of the initial CASNET implementation offered not only insights to the real benefits distributed CAS training provides the forward air controller, but also an early picture of just how far the network bandwidth could go. Analysis of the latencies and spare bandwidth on the encrypted network indicated that in addition to exchange of FAC commands and guidance, remote cockpit simulators could exchange entity state information sufficient for formation flying and aerial refueling.

In late 2003, the Air National Guard Distributed Training Operations Center (ANG-DTOC) undertook an initiative to connect all of their US A-10 Full Mission Trainers so that the geographically distributed simulators could all be networked into a cohesive virtual world. By March 2004, the DTOC was conducting routine formation flight training scenarios using encrypted DIS real-time protocols over the Internet via TACLANE KG-175 network devices. As a baseline, all A-10 FMTs are furnished with government-furnished equipment (GFE) off-the-shelf visual databases for playing in virtual exercises. A typical scenario involves a virtual FAC located at the DTOC with individual pilots operating in the remote A-10 FMT cockpits to conduct coordinated maneuvers and formation flying in CAS operations.

DTOC Event Control Center with VRSG running in the display on the right for observing and analyzing CAS missions. Image courtesy of Air National Guard.

Under the CASNET DMT umbrella, virtual C4ISR sensor assets such as MUSE/AFSERS UAVs or even embedded UAV trainers can be instantiated to provide the FAC or higher-level C2 decision makers with target identification, tracking, and designation as well as battle damage assessment (BDA). The CASNET DMT is also transitioning to the MetaVR Metadesic terrain compiler which provides the entire virtual and constructive sides of the training system with live terrain that can be updated during an exercise, particularly over the network. This means that all of the cockpit and UAV visuals, and any participating FACs, benefit from real-time terrain updates.

Advancing aerial refueling training

Going forward, we envision that the technology already fielded in the CASNET DMT system will support distributed aerial refueling simulations. Thus aircrafts at geographically disparate bases, such as the KC-135 Air Refueling Wing at Pease ANGB and the Flying Yankees (A-10 FMT) at Bradley ANGB, could conduct virtual aerial refueling training.

Simulation of a KC-135 aircraft refueling an A-10.

The 26 visual systems were delivered with the latest version of MetaVR VRSG software, which contains a robust 3D content library. The library, which contains a significant number of unique entity models, includes the distributed mission training (DMT) 3D model set at no additional charge. The A-10 model has most of its control surfaces modeled as well as a refueling port. In-air refueling scenarios can now be simulated by using the A-10 model with its fuel port and the KC-135 model with its articulated refueling boom.

Fielded sites

MetaVR was initially awarded the contract to provide a PC-based image generator to the A-10 Full Mission Trainer in July 2001. The original award consisted of five sites, which were installed and put to use in training in October 2001. The success of this program in terms of performance, reliability, maintainability, and cost has resulted in fielding an additional five sites. The table below provides information about each fielded site.

	Currently Fielded Sites
	Location		Date Fielded			Number of Simulators			Number of Channels

	Barksdale AFB, LA	April 2004	2	10
	Davis Montham AFB, AZ	Sept 2003	2	10
	Osan AFB, Korea	Aug 2003	1	5
	Whiteman AFB, AR	Aug 2002	1	5
	Bradley AFB, CT	June 2002, April 2004	1	9
	Spangdahlem AFB, Germany	May 2002	1	5
	Battlecreek AFB, MI	April 2002, April 2004	1	9
	New Orleans, LA	March 2002	1	9
	Pope AFB, NC	Feb 2002	1	5
	Boise, ID	Oct 2001, April 2004	1	9
	Purchased: pending placement	Pending	-	4

MetaVR visual systems are delivered with GFE terrain databases that require no additional cost or licensing fees. The 3D terrain databases are compatible with multiple customer applications of MetaVR technology.