Canada is planning to make greater use of distributed simulation in defence procurement, as well as in training. Under the Canadian Advanced Synthetic Environment (CASE) project, the Department of National Defence (DND) is developing the capability to use modelling and simulation for requirements definition, tactics development, testing and training.
As a follow-on to its participation in the just-completed NATO First Wave distributed mission training exercise (Flight International, 30 November-6 December), the DND is planning two new initiatives: Griffon Mothership to determine how existing models and simulators can plug into the CASE network; and War In A Box to demonstrate development of complex scenarios by staging a large-scale joint virtual exercise.
Award of the Griffon Mothership contract is scheduled for March, says Lt Col Rick Thompson, director air requirements for modelling, simulation and training.
The goal is to standardise DND simulators "so we can cut and paste databases from one to the other", Thompson says.
The project involves developing common models and databases to upgrade four existing networked simulators for the Canadian Forces' Bell CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter.
The War In A Box demonstration is planned for the first half of 2006. The mission scenario will involve the extraction of non-combatants from a war-torn African nation, says Thompson.
Whereas Canadian air force Boeing CF-18 simulators participated in First Wave, War In a Box would primarily involve army and navy assets, but could include air force Lockheed Martin CC-130 Hercules simulators.
Thompson says the CASE project will be responsible for linking new simulators, being acquired from L-3 Link for the CF-18 advanced distributed combat mission system, with the US Air Force's expanding distributed mission operations network of simulators.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
