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who's who in Training & Simulation.
Simulation at the Cutting Edge
Hundreds of companies, universities and research organisations are active in the development of simulation in one way or another. But increasingly, training may be only one application for the technology coming from these sources, although that sector often gains from advances developed for other applications. From modest beginnings when simulation set out to replicate the performance of advanced combat aircraft and airliners, (with varying degrees of success), the technology has grown to stand alongside the very latest in aircraft design. Indeed, simulation has led the development of fly-by-wire and computer-controlled combat aircraft, as software tested on a rig gradually extends the flight envelope. Consequently, there is now a direct read-across from development simulators to the devices that will one day. be used by pilots attending conversion, mission planning and other training: as the use of networked simulation-based training grows the inclusion of company-owned development simulators in major defence exercises is becoming commonplace. This use of common aircraft control/simulation software ensures that perfect levels of replication can be achieved for full flight simulators, while mission planning may now be undertaken by aircrews whilst airborne and even en route to the target. Ending Divisions Between the Real World and Simulation Today's new-generation of fly-by-wire fighters such as the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Lockheed/Boeing F-22, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Lockheed or Boeing JSF have coincidentally raised the benchmark of flight simulation standards to the highest-ever levels. Similarly, as the digital battlefield extends to new levels, the division between simulation and the conduct of real warfare is becoming equally blurred, as indeed is the case with naval warfare. Curiously, just as the spin-off from advanced aircraft design and the development of battlefield management systems has helped to satisfy training needs, so too technology from the video game and entertainment industries has played a part in the development of `cutting edge' simulators. Boeing for example acknowledges that its JSF mission simulator has benefited from the `bottom end' video game technology. While software codes used for the development of aircraft controls have helped to blur the divide between platforms and their simulators, advances in vision systems intended for entertainment use can be used with equal facility for military applications. In fact such is the ferocity of competition within the training and simulation industry, that significant improvements in visual systems have been paralleled by a downward trend in costs. In part these have been driven down by the demands of the entertainment industry, increased volume production helping to lower unit costs. But given the pressures on defence budgets and the need for simulation manufacturers to find new markets, it is no surprise that some of the market leaders produce both complex military and entertainment simulators. Similarly, visual systems specialists that target entertainment, research and other simulator users may count the defence market as only apart of a much larger total. One result of this diversification has been the emergence of companies with little or no defence industry background into the military arena, sometimes challenging the primacy of those that have long provided military simulators. Consolidation Produces Giants In response to such a challenge some in the training business have merged with others to consolidate their strength. Thales Training & Simulation (previously known as Thomson-CSF) is a prime example of a company that has grown by acquisition, often making `who's who' a difficult question to answer. Thus, African Defence Systems (ADS), Rediffusion and others now trade as Thales Training & Simulation, having been added to the long-established French organisation. The sale by BAE Systems North America of its Flight Simulation and Training business to CAE promises to make the already large Canadian company an even bigger player in the market. BAE Systems had previously acquired Reflectone but the heavy losses incurred by the parent British company on some unrelated programmes obliged the disposal of some non-core businesses in order to boost its financial situation. The deal with CAE was concluded less than a month after BAE Systems had been selected as one of the prime contractors able to pursue the virtual domain task orders under the Stricom Omnibus Contract (Stoc). The eight-year, contract is valued at up to $4 billion to the team, which includes AAI Corporation, AcuSoft, Litton/Tasc, Management Technology, Raydon and Alenia Marconi Systems. Already achieving annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, CAE has now acquired a thriving company with an annual income of some $80 million. Meanwhile Hughes Training, first absorbed by Raytheon and in turn by L-3 ...See the full content of this document
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