L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has confirmed that it will design an advanced Mission Training Centre (MTC) programme for the US Air Force.
The lucrative contract includes terms for the production and maintenance of up to 20 four-ship F-16 MTCs at Air Force installations located in the US, Europe and Pacific sectors. The high-fidelity F-16 MTC simulators, manufactured in block 40/42 and 50/52 configurations, will accurately emulate the F16's weapon systems for pilot training, tactics validation and mission rehearsal.
"The technology Link will provide on the F-16 MTC program is setting a new standard in vitural immersive simulation," Frank Delisle, L-3 Link's VP of engineering told The News. "Link's integration of its HD World technology into F-16 MTC raises the bar of virtual simulation by introducing a disruptive, yet mature, solution that takes pilot training to an unprecented level of realism," said Delisle.
 Indeed, each F-16 MTC unit contains four advanced training devices integrated with a 360º visual display, immersive synthetic environment, operator station and a brief/debrief post. The visual display is powered by L-3's HD World, which combines high definition databases, image generation, physics-based processing technology and visual system displays to create a realistic training environment.
"The F-16 Mission Training Center program will be integrated with L-3 Link’s next generation visual and display simulation technologies designed to greatly enhance fighter pilot training realism," explained Bob Birmingham, link simulation and training president. "The strong, best-in-class F-16 MTC program team L-3 Link has formed with Boeing to provide the US Air Force with a solution that will maximize warfighters' operational readiness."
Military simulations provide a safe, realistic and interactive training platform for the 21st century soldier. As the IT Examiner previously reported, a number of companies have developed simulators for the US military, including Intelligence Gaming (IG), which designed an immersive cultural simulation (ICS) project used to prepare American troops for overseas deployment.
ICS, based on Reality V, is powered by a customised Adobe Flash Player 10 capable of running on multiple platforms, or in enhanced mode with a head-mounted display. The programme, which offers 360-degrees of video and eight binaural audio channels, allows users to interact with actors recorded in high-definition digital media. Trainees navigating their virtual environment are able to fully observe live action content that influences decision making in the field. Indeed, ICS tracks even the slightest movements and accurately renders perspective-correct audio and video to the head-mounted display.
"The simulation includes a carefully formulated plot with a realistic cast of characters that unfolds over multiple chapters," said IG CTO Rick Schmidt. "Although ICS is a training programme, it provides an entertaining, yet emotional story similar to the popular Band of Brothers television mini-series. User immersion in an environment populated with memorable characters provides as close to living a real experience as one can get. Reality V technology delivers an experience second only to being there."
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