L-3 Communications has announced that its Link Simulation and Training (Link) division has been awarded a $7.3 million contract option from the U.S. Air Force’s Aeronautical System Center to build seven Predator Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) production units and three brief/debrief systems.
The Predator aircrew training system – which will enable pilots and sensor operators to undergo initial qualification, mission qualification, continuation and mission rehearsal simulation-based training – also will enable aircrews to be trained in the simultaneous operation of multiple Predator aircraft over various battlefield environments.
PMATS will provide high fidelity modeling of the Predator MQ-1 aircraft platform, sensors and weapons. The MQ-1 is used by the Air Force to meet armed reconnaissance and interdiction requirements.
The simulated synthetic environment will take into account time of day, winds, adverse weather and thermal effects. A detailed urban environment also will be simulated. Plans also call for PMATS to be enhanced to provide simulation of the newer MQ-9 Predator unmanned aircraft system.
“The Predator aircrew training system has the look and feel of an actual ground control station,” said John McNellis, president of Link Simulation and Training.
“This high fidelity aircrew training system offers the design flexibility to support training on multiple Predator aircraft configurations. This will enable Predator aircrews to gain training on the aircraft configuration that they will be controlling within a theater of operation.”
The MQ-1 aircrew training systems being developed under this contract option will be delivered to the Air Force’s Air Combat Command 11th Reconnaissance Squadron Formal Training Unit at Creech Air Force Base, NV with an initial operational capability in the latter part of 2006. The training systems will be upgraded in early 2007 to a full operational capability, which will enable the systems to participate in the U.S. Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) simulation exercises.
Under the PMATS contract originally awarded in June 2005, Link is developing one trainer and one brief/debrief system that will be delivered with initial operational capability in late 2006. The system will be upgraded in early 2007 to a full operational capability. This first unit will be housed at Link’s Arlington, TX facility to support ongoing training system development and modification.
