WaSiF, a new tool for fighter pilot training

The purpose of the project Weapon System Simulation in Flight (WaSiF) is to design, implement and demonstrate an on-board embedded simulation system allowing the training of aircrew against simulated adversaries, in a virtual scenario including a threat environment, while flying on a real aircraft.

WaSiF is a Research Technology Programme funded by the Ministries of Defence of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Turkey under the framework of the EUCLID Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). All the nations, except Turkey, are members of the military Eurotraining group for Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT). On-board "embedded" simulation and "virtual" scenarios are current topics of high interest in aircrew training.

The objective is a more effective and realistic front-line aircrew training in the current situation of limited training ranges and increasing cost of flight hours, as well as early introduction to modern combat operations during the advanced aircrew training syllabus. The system is designed and developed by a consortium lead by EADS Military Aircraft, Munich and including AerMacchi of Italy, Dutch Space and NLR of the Netherlands, OGMA and INETI of Portugal and Tubitak/Marmara Research Centre of Turkey.

The present WaSiF system is focused on air-to-air beyond visual range engagements and allows combat mission training during standard peace-time training exercises of fighter aircraft in varying force compositions, in the presence of ground-to-air threats such as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and using electronic counter measures or electronic protection measures (ECM/EPM).

Within the current research programme dubbed "In-Flight Demonstration of Embedded Simulation for Training Purposes On-Board Fighter Aircraft" EADS Military Aircraft has further developed and adopted its own basic software for WaSiF to serve as core software to be installed in the Italian Air Force-owned and AerMacchi-operated MB339CD test bed. The basic technology consists of the autonomous on-board real-time simulation of both computer-generated forces (Air/Air, Surface/Air) and the presentation of the simulated air-to-air scenario on existing cockpit displays.

The system is composed by a dedicated on-board simulation computer with the high processing power needed to run the simulation of the own weapon system, of the adversaries and their weapon systems, of the ground threats, as well as to manage the simulation and interface with the aircraft's avionics. The simulation computer, derived from equivalents in use for ground simulation, is provided by Concurrent Computer Corp and Mektron Systems Ltd. The simulation system is fully integrated with the aircraft's avionics and the aircrew operates radar, electronic warning and protection system and medium range missiles as if they were actually installed on the aircraft.

The system is now fully tested, and installation and ground tests onboard the MB339CD aircraft are complete. The modern full-digital avionics based on a MIL1553 bus make the MB339CD an appropriate flying testbed for this programme. In addition, being a two-seater, it will allow demonstration flights to pilots without the need for conversion to type.

The contracted results will be demonstrated with flight test and flight demonstration this July of this year. The programme will be finished by end of September 2003. On-board Tactical Simulation is already a requirement for the future Advanced European Jet Pilot Training. WaSiF is one step in developing the technology base and capability to fulfil this requirement.

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