Communications training -- the key to victory? The history of warfare is littered with episodes in which communications -- or the lack of them -- have determined the outcome of a battle. In the days when messages were delivered by runners or horsemen, the failure to get vital information through could be excused, while signalling by flags, bugles or lamps later improved the chances of conveying instructions. (Simulation Approach).

So the advent of radio should have removed the uncertainty of battlefield communications once and for all. But on today's digital battlefield the hazards of communications are hardly much less than in the days of the human messenger. An enemy's ability to detect, pinpoint and unscramble messages underlines the need to train radio operators and mechanics to use or repair equipment to the highest standards.

Instructor-led Training

While there is an increasing number of simulation and computer based training (CBT) aids available, a number of armies offer places on courses covering a range of communications and information systems (CIS) subjects. There is more to a radio than the facility for one to talk to another; data, Internet messages, maps and pictures can also be relayed. So operators and engineers must be trained accordingly.

Courses run by the British Army Training & Recruiting Agency (Atra) provide specialist training covering a wide spectrum. Conducted at the Royal School of Signals, the courses range from telecommunications installation and maintenance to electronic warfare and digitisation of the battlefield. The Cofras organisation will also provide specialist training, usually in support of French-manufactured equipment.

However, the United Kingdom is actively pursuing a policy of involving industry in the provision of training, awarding long-term contracts to consortia that can fund the provision of hardware and instruction. To support the long-awaited Bowman communications programme, a consortium led by Vosper Thornycroft and including CAE is bidding to take responsibility for all aspects of training. Valued at some 58 million [pounds sterling], this will include the design, development and delivery of all the user and maintenance training programmes.

Simulation and CBT

Although there is much in common in matters of air, naval and land communication systems, each has specific aspects that require specialist training. Kongsberg is a source of voice communication trainers, which it has supplied to five maritime forces as well as the Norwegian Army. The equipment can be supplied with generic, mock-up or real radio panels and, if required, software panels can enable the selection of different radio types on the same PC.

The Voice Communication Systems series of simulators and training aids produced by Drake covers all three services. These include both surface and underwater communications simulators for naval operators, as well as acoustic trainers and sophisticated rear crew simulators.

Drake recently supplied a versatile voice communications system to simulate a real life environment at the Royal Navy's School of Maritime Operations. The communications element supplied by Drake is part of a Combined Tactical Trainer that simulates four different ships. Over 70 instructors, monitoring and maintenance staff and students required a versatile system in which to provide training in both combat and peacetime duties.

Ruag has developed the distributed interactive simulation (Dis) based Cosy voice communication system for armoured fighting vehicle crews. This has been specially designed for use in complex simulator systems and allows communication between the operating crew, commander and instructors. Simulation includes battlefield noise, radio path disturbances due to terrain and atmospheric conditions, transmission characteristics and the effects of electronic warfare (EW).

EW -- Where the Battle Rages

The vulnerability of the Internet to EW has called for appropriate measures and General Dynamics Electronic Systems has developed the new Internet Attack Simulator. As well as helping users to find and fix real holes in an IP network, the Internet Attack Simulator can be used to provide network security training. It can also be used to create a threat environment for exercises.

Direction finding, frequency measurement and dealing with deception and noise jammers are but part of the EW training that communications operators will need to undergo and this is an area in which several companies have specialised. These include the aptly named Electronic Warfare Associates (EWA), which in addition to the provision of information operations engineering and technical services support, has developed training solutions.

EWA's simulation and CBT training system includes courseware and syllabus development as well as the provision for training sessions. The Virtual Integrated EW Simulator (Views) produced by Canada-based Excalibur Systems is described as a 100 per cent software solution to EW simulation and training. Consequently, no special hardware is required and Views will run on any generic multi-media PC using Microsoft Windows 95 or NT.

Radar Threats

Views draws on Excalibur's long history of building powerful, flexible radar threat simulation systems, the modular nature of the product facilitating the creation of a range of configurations without risky software development. Excalibur's systems are based on ThreatBuilder software, which allows users to create complex emitters, platforms and scenarios and run them in real-time. Now merged with Sierra Research, Excalibur has supplied EW simulation equipment to forces in the US, Canada, Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim.

Training for EW is a major activity of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), which specialises in the development of PC-based EW equipment for training with active threats, as well as to provide training of integrated EW systems. PC-based EW equipment enables operators to train in a complete weapon simulator or on an actual military system. GTRI also supplies rangeless onboard EW training for aircrews in which a high fidelity EW environment can include terrain masking of threats, co-ordinated EW displays and threat reactions to aircraft actions.

Alenia Marconi Systems has also focused on the EW training needs of air forces, producing the Elusion integrated EW training system for use at headquarters, bases and front line squadrons. Students at the company's Dundridge College use Elusion, and AMS has teamed with FR Aviation to provide these users with live EW training on board Falcon 20 aircraft.

Now a Northrop Grumman company, Comptek Amherst has long been a source for EW simulation, from the provision of classroom devices to state-of-the-art EW threat simulation systems such as the Advanced Multiple Environment Simulator. This is a family of devices designed to provide high-density, real-world simulation. Comptek's Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (Ceesim) has been developed for a number of applications including operator, aircrew and joint forces training in EW.