Mission Systems Trainer

Our Mission Systems Trainer (MST) is a highly flexible, cost-effective and deployable PC-based, part-task C2 operator trainer, which is based on COTS technology and is currently being used as a deployable crew trainer for the Sea King Mk 7 Air Surveillance and Control operators on board the Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The MST comprises a Operator Console, which represents the processing of the Mission System and provides a high fidelity emulation of the Mission System operator controls and displays, and an Instructor Operator Station (IOS), which provides the external environment to stimulate the Mission System.

The operator console comprises a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) display, which shows the full air picture together with selected data totes, together with its two touch panel controls, and firm switches and potentiometers. For the deployable MSTs currently being used by the RN, twin Operator Consoles are provided in metal casings that replicate the look of the real system.

The IOS models onboard sensors, tracking functions and communications for the simulated platform, and represents the external scenario, providing for sophisticated run-time control of scenario objects. The MST models a high fidelity, multi-mode AEW surveillance radar model, together with a generic single mode surveillance radar; it also represents IFF and provides a detailed message-level JTIDS/Link 16 model, and can replay recorded JTIDS/Link 16 data.

The IOS can create new scenarios or reuse existing ones using drag and drop functionality and supports the creation of 500+ air, land, surface and sub-surface dynamic objects.

It provides for the definition and control of object movements and caters for:

• Routes, CAPs, intercepts
• Manual (joystick ) or automated control
• Control of object behaviours over time
• Identity, strength, platform status
• Supports world-wide ESRI format mapping data
  
  

In addition to its training role, the MST has been used to prototype HMI requirements for the Sea King Mk 7, and under the Applied Research Programme is currently being used as a platform to help develop and assess automatic Decision Support Tools for AEW&C operators.

A new portable version of the Mission System Trainer is underway that will house the MST's Operator Console in a briefcase, to allow for highly deployable and scalable training.