CAE has been awarded a contract for the delivery of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) mission trainer to the Italian Air Force.
Representing the General Atomics-built Predator remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), the mission trainer is expected to be used to provide initial and mission training for the platform’s pilots and sensor operators.
Italian Air Force chief of staff general Preziosa said, "With this new training system, Amendola Air Force Base will further develop its capabilities in the RPA initial and recurrent training sector and present itself as a relevant Centre of Excellence in the European region."
CAE Defence and Security Group president Gene Colabatistto said the contract reinforces the company’s growing international partnership with General Atomics to provide comprehensive training solutions for the Predator RPA family.
"CAE has a long history of supporting the simulation and training requirements of the Italian Air Force on platforms such as the C-130J and M-346, and we look forward to continuing this support for the Predator," Colabatistto said.
Combining an open architecture with commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and simulation software, the trainer will enhance Italy’s training capability by decreasing the air force’s reliance on live flight training, and allowing Predator crews to increasingly practice procedures to counter potentially catastrophic emergencies.
Readily modified to simulate any specific UAS platform or sensor payload suite, the system leverages the CAE-developed common database (CDB) architecture and will also allow the service to conduct networked training exercises.
Apart from a STANAG 4586-compliant-ground control station (GCS), the trainer also features high-fidelity simulation software for electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR) sensors, a CAE Medallion-6000 image generator, instructor operator and mission brief/de-brief station, simulated communication systems and simulation software for generating training scenarios.
The delivery of trainer to Amendola Air Force Base at Foggia, Italy, is scheduled to take place in early 2015.
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Image: The CAE UAS mission trainer will be used to provide initial and mission training for the Predator RPA pilots and sensor operators. Photo: © 2012 CAE.
