SBIR Initiated for Remote Pilot Aircraft Virtual Simulation Capabilities

Information provided by AFAMS

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Readiness Training Center (RTC) has a national defense-related mission need in the area of providing warfighter readiness of its airmen. Specifically, the availability of Remote Pilot Aircraft (RPA) virtual simulation capabilities to augment training of our SOF forces is a primary area of interest. An approved government Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative will address identified shortfalls.

The main focus of this project involves the exploration of innovative, and emerging technology and techniques in hosting the Air Force Synthetic Environment for Reconnaissance and Surveillance (AFSERS), in a cloud infrastructure, provide the appropriate network access, data access, multiple level security and authority to operate credentials in support of the AFSOC.

The AFSERS is a DoD software suite that simulates UAS/RPA (e.g., MQ-9) systems, tailored air vehicle & data links, and visualization systems used for payload product outputs-including Full Motion Video (FMV), Fixed Frame Imagery (FFI), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data, and Link 16 (J2.2 and J3.5) tracking messages.

The mission impact of this project on the Air Force and the Department of Defense will be increased access of this synthetic environment to the AFSOC RTC with the ability to train SOF forces annually, thereby, addressing warfighter readiness in their assigned positions. This cloud based infrastructure will standardize components, reduce the IT footprint, reduce computer technician requirements, and reduce subject matter expertise, thereby providing cost avoidance.

Additionally, this capability will make AFSERS more available to the training community by being available on multiple domains. This capability can be expanded across other AF and DOD organizations requiring this capability. AFSOC will apply an exercise use case to provide a proof of concept.

This project is pursued in coordination with AFLCMC, Joint Technical Center Systems Integration Lab (JTC-SIL), AFSOC and TREX 10, with the support of the efforts of the team at AFAMS.