Simulation and Training
Raytheon Virtual Technology Corporation (Raytheon VTC) has been instrumental in the design and development of networked training systems, including some of the most pivotal distributed training initiatives in the DoD. The Distributed Training Solutions Group provides unparalleled expertise in the development and integration of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) simulations into networked environments designed to support distributed training. Our experience includes developing, integrating, and supporting state-of-the-art simulator architectures and providing interoperability solutions for legacy devices to extend and expand their training value. All of our efforts bring a unique blend of exceptional experience and sophisticated interoperability tools to provide cost-effective, innovative solutions to our customers.
We are experienced in the design of architectures and infrastructure to efficiently support the breadth and scale of distributed training systems, and have developed key components in such areas as federation management and control, scenario development, data collection and analysis, brief/debrief, and instructional support to ensure technical and instructional effectiveness across the distributed training enterprise. Perhaps the most important capability Raytheon VTC brings to our training solutions is our understanding of how to apply technology to produce the desired end state: effective training!
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A brief description of our program efforts is provided below.
Navy Aviation Training Programs
Raytheon VTC is leading the way in Navy distributed training by providing distributed simulation technical expertise and interoperability tools to the following Navy Aviation Simulation Master Plan (NASMP)-related programs:
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Navy Aviation Simulation Master Plan (NASMP)
The Navy is embarking on a major transformation in the way aviation training is conducted, where multi-platform and potentially Joint and Coalition operations are emphasized. Simulation has now been determined to be a key element of this initiative as simulators are providing never-before levels of fidelity, tactical realism, concurrency, and availability. This plan, called the NASMP, will realize the Chief of Naval Operations. (CNO) vision for a revolutionary approach to training. NASMP includes a wide range of simulators, networking, and distributed simulation infrastructure integrated into a common synthetic training environment. The NASMP vision is to provide individual, team, and multi-unit collective training in a realistic, theater-specific environment in which all training events and qualification exercises performed in the training system will come as close as possible to yielding the same experience as those performed in the aircraft. NASMP is the acquisition strategy for the Fleet Aviation Simulation Training (FAST) Plan, a $750 million (FY02 to FY09) program within the Navy training and readiness plan. Dozens of full flight simulators, as well as a wide range of lower fidelity devices and potentially deployable training systems, will become NASMP compliant; and more broadly, NASMP will interface with a wide range of Navy, Joint, and potentially Coalition training systems.
Raytheon VTC has played a key and driving role in the design and development of the NASMP from the program's inception under various contracting arrangements. Upon program initiation (FY02), Raytheon VTC competed for and won (as a subcontractor) the NASMP Distributed Training Tools Analysis contract. This initial NASMP research effort analyzed tools and technologies needed to implement the NASMP in four areas:
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This contract included development of a comprehensive Concept of Operations and top-level architecture for the NASMP infrastructure as well as initial standards to support the acquisition Navy aviation simulators. On the basis of our excellent performance, the Government awarded a follow-on contract directly to Raytheon VTC as the prime for continuation of the design of the NASMP. In FY05, Raytheon VTC won a competition for the NASMP Engineering Support contract to continue these efforts and currently provides a whole range of architecture, design, infrastructure, networking, performance measurement, and management support to the NASMP program. Raytheon VTC, working in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) with the Navy, is designing the architecture and infrastructure that the entire FAST Plan of simulators will work in, and working with the Navy to integrate NASMP with other key training systems such as the Navy Continuous Training Environment (NCTE), Air Force Distributed Mission Operations, and Joint National Training Capability (JNTC).
The challenge of developing and integrating the latest generation mission training simulators with legacy aviation training devices into an ever-expanding NCTE is a complex interoperability task. NAVAIR has repeatedly turned to Raytheon VTC to provide interoperability solutions that will enable Navy Airwing platforms to effectively train together, support readiness objectives, and save money and save lives for the Navy aviation community. This program has recently requested a proposal for a 3 year, $5 million, sole-source contract to Raytheon VTC for continuation of our effort.
Army Training Programs
Raytheon VTC is leading the way in Army distributed training by providing distributed simulation technical expertise and interoperability tools to the following Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)/Army programs:
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Distributed technologies are changing the way the U.S. Army trains its people. At the tactical level, stovepipe Army training devices have given way to a family of networked, collective training capabilities referred to as Combined Arms Tactical Trainers (CATT). CATT incorporates high-fidelity, interactive, manned simulators; Command, Control, and Communications (C3) workstations; exercise control stations, and After-Action Review systems linked in a synthetic environment, able to support virtual training up to the battalion/task force level. Raytheon VTC interoperability expertise and interoperability toolsets have been instrumental in standing up two Army CATT training system subsets: CCTT and AVCATT. Raytheon VTC expertise in simulation systems development and distributedsimulation interoperability has been a critical element in fielding these highly effective training systems.
When the 160th SOAR defined a need to link their legacy helicopter virtual simulators to enable mission-level tactical training, Raytheon VTC was called on to provide the integration solution. A flexible and innovative answer was provided, using a Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) to High-Level Architecture (HLA) gateway and Raytheon VTC interoperability tools to integrate multiple virtual simulators with a common threat environment and provide for network monitoring, control, and HLA logging capabilities for this multi-platform tactical training environment. Follow-on efforts include integration of SOAR's latest generation "Little Bird" AH/MH-6 simulator.
At an operational level of training, the Army's WARSIM is a computer-based simulation being developed to provide the next-generation Command and Control (C2) training environment. WARSIM will support the training of unit headquarters and command posts from battalion through theater level in Joint and combined scenarios. It will provide schoolhouse command post training events while allowing units worldwide to train in their command posts using organic Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) equipment. Raytheon VTC expertise in interoperability is ensuring WARSIM provides a comprehensive Joint environment capable of integrating live embedded (instrumented vehicles), virtual, and constructive simulations by providing necessary technical network control and federation management capabilities.
Tying together different levels of force training, the ACTF is a federation of simulations and associated software tools that provide the capability to compose, initialize, control, and manage a synthetic operational environment to support collective command and staff training including Joint Command and Control (JC2), battlespace awareness, force application, focused logistics, and protection. Raytheon VTC's Acquisition and Analysis Group has been called on to provide network technical control and management capabilities to support ACTF distributed network development and operations.
Many of the efforts mentioned fall under the direction of the PEO STRI, which has been charged with bringing its simulations together so that warfighters can train in a truly Joint environment. Raytheon VTC has been called on repeatedly to support PEO STRI program objectives, because our knowledge and understanding of distributed Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and use of innovative technologies to address difficult M&S challenges is unmatched.
Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Simulation Integration
The evolution of M&S technologies has produced exciting new areas of concentration that focus on the integration of LVC environments to support acquisition, test, and readiness objectives of the DoD. Raytheon VTC is at the forefront of this multi-Service Joint initiative, providing unique insights into the enabling technologies, architectures, and protocols; supporting the develop of a vision for its implementation; and providing interoperability experts to pivotal LVC programs in the DoD. A few LVC initiatives we support are described below.
TENA Gateway Project
The Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA) is an initiative sponsored by Foundation Initiative 2010 (FI2010) Program Office . Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP), to enhance and standardize effectiveness for test and training systems by providing interoperability among ranges, facilities, and simulations, and foster reuse of range resources and range system developments.
Raytheon VTC is supporting a NAVAIR PMA 205 initiative to bring the Navy's legacy range assets into a TENA-enabled architecture to provide an infrastructure that enables large-scale synthetic range capabilities while leveraging existing and future test and training systems. TENA has been endorsed by key DoD initiatives such as the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC).
Raytheon VTC supports the TENA initiative in the following areas:
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System Technical Monitoring (STM)
The objective of the Combat Training Center Objective Instrumentation System (CTC OIS) Program is to design, develop, and field a world-class instrumentation system at the CTCs. STM provides the capability to perform technical monitoring and network management for the CTC OIS. STM provides the processing and related graphical and textual user interfaces that enable a user to quickly observe the health, state, and status of system computing resources being employed at the CTCs. Based upon Raytheon VTC's hlaControl®, the STM solution maximizes the use of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products and provides a cost savings to the Army. The STM solution was selected by the prime integrator, Lockheed Martin, as an early deployment candidate for the CTC OIS program and is currently fielded at the National Training Center (NTC) in Ft. Irwin, CA. Additionally, Raytheon VTC won the Outstanding Small Business Provider award from Lockheed Martin for our efforts on STM. Currently, STM is being upgraded to support enhanced features for the CTC OIS operators.
Battlefield Effects and Interfaces (BE&I)
The objective of the CTC OIS Program is to design, develop, and field a world-class instrumentation system at the CTCs. The BE&I initiative is two-fold in that it provides an interoperability solution (System External Gateways [SEGW]) and battlefield effects (Area Weapons Effects (AWES)]. The SEGW Technology Capability Group (TCG) will enable CTC OIS to achieve interoperability with external systems and simulations, such as legacy constructive simulations, by providing gateways between the external systems and the Army's Common Training Instrumentation Architecture (CTIA). The AWES TCG will provide software to simulate area weapons effects for the CTC OIS including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs); artillery; Intelligence and Electronic Warfare/Information Operations Warfare (IEW/IOW); air-to-ground weapons; minefields; and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) agents.
Working with the prime integrator, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon VTC supports the CTC OIS Program by providing:
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