The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) of the United Kingdom has developed a new virtual training concept that will enable the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to train its armed forces to combat ready proficiency. At the same time it will reduce the capability, cost and environmental impact of using valuable equipment, which would otherwise be deployed on military operations.

Over the last 12 years, a Dstl team has been developing a series of ground breaking wargaming simulations for MoD training needs. This work has subsequently evolved into the Defence Operational Training Capability – Air (DOTC(A)) research programme, sponsored by capability theatre airspace.

Ebb Smith, from Dstl, says: “The aim of DOTC(A) is to provide the air element of a pan-defence training capability for MoD by developing a simulation and synthetic training environment, which is both efficient and cost-effective.”

The research programme is currently focused on the investigation of live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training. Live training means real people in real-world platforms; virtual training means real people in virtual platforms (eg simulator, role-player station etc); and constructive training means computer generated forces, either fully autonomous or under the control of a role-player.

The UK’s first fully assessed LVC exercises, LiveWIRE and Phantom Race, were carried out during February and November last year. During exercise LiveWIRE, RAF pilots flew two pairs of Typhoons; one pair live over the North Sea ranges and the second pair virtually from cockpit trainers at the Air Battlespace Training Centre (ABTC) at RAF Waddington. The Typhoons were supported by a virtual airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and pitted against virtual hostile aircraft flown by role-players on desktop trainers to re-enact a realistic combat situation.

Ebb Smith says: “The main objectives of the exercises were to assess the training potential of the LVC and identify any particular technical issues. While technical challenges, such as network connections, commercial constraints and limited range times may be overcome quite simply, there is no point in pursuing new capabilities if they do not offer tangible benefits to the trainees.”

The participation of the Typhoon pilots and virtual operators provided valuable and positive feedback to the Dstl team in assessing the LVC for its training and capability potential.

With initial trials completed and user buy-in secured, future work in this area will see virtual air assets from the ABTC plugging into live exercises in other areas such as land and maritime. Not only will these pioneering exercises be used by Dstl to identify requirements and benefits to other domains, but also with NATO partners to pave the way to introduce this new training capability to all front line operators.