Navy looks to fine-tune flight simulators
Service awards AAC a contract to improve fidelity for training on the P-8A Poseidon and the MH-60R Seahawk, while making ocean simulations more realistic.
The Navy has awarded Advanced Acoustic Concepts a $13.8 million contract to improve flight simulations for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft and the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, both of which are used in anti-submarine warfare as well as anti-surface warfare and other missions.
AAC will procure the Common Acoustic Simulation Environment Fidelity Implementation (CASE-FI), which will provide tactical operational flight trainers and weapons tactics trainers with high-fidelity improvements to the anti-software warfare tactical environment, according to a Defense Department contract announcement.
The contract was a sole-source award, as AAC, a joint venture of Thales and DRS, is the original manufacturer and the only company that has provided CASE to the government.
The goal of the upgrade is to improve trainer fidelity and training effectiveness through high-fidelity improvements to the anti-software warfare tactical environment. It’s also intended to more closely align a simulated, physics-based ocean environment with real-world operations.
Flight simulators have a long history in aviation, as well as other fields, but the military has put a lot of effort into improving their quality, whether for flight, tank training and small unit decision-making, or large-scale, joint-force immersive exercises that take place in multiple locations at one.
Work on the contract is expected to be completed by February 2022.