Selex and Close Air Solutions (CAS) have handed over the immersive close air support simulator (iCASS) system to the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) joint forward air control training and standardisation unit (JFACTSU).

The iCASS is a forward air control (FAC) simulator and training system, and is designed to provide FACs with a high-fidelity, immersive training environment with full after-action review capability. It was ordered by the MoD in November 2014.

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The simulator is scheduled to be used by JFACTSU for their FAC training requirement at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK.

UK MoD Joint Air Land Organisation HQ Air Command Chief of Staff group captain Mark Gorringe said: "Synthetic systems offer excellent value for money to support scarce live air assets for delivering forward air controller (FAC) training both now and particularly in the future.

"The simulator is scheduled to be used by JFACTSU for their FAC training requirement at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK."

"Synthetic systems are acknowledged as offering better FAC training than live aircraft in some scenarios, and equally as effective in many other instances.

"The new synthetic systems will complement JFACTSU’s existing training and utilise the latest advances in technology to ensure that JFACTSU continues to provide training of the highest order."

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The simulator is compliant with distributed interactive simulation (DIS) / simulation interoperability Standards Organization standards. It features computer generated /semi-automated forces and threat generation with 3D virtual simulation supplied by MetaVR and Battlespace Simulations.

iCASS is available through simulator sales or complete end-to-end training school service provision to support high-quality and high-tempo FAC / JTAC training anywhere in the world.

The JFACTSU is commanded by an RAF Regiment Squadron Leader (OF-3). It is claimed to be the only Nato and US Joint Services accredited schoolhouse in the UK Military to train FACs.

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