January 19, 2023 – Ternion Corporation received a task order award from the U.S. Air Force to continue providing a single-server, resident modeling and simulation (M&S) capability to simulate an air and space operations center (AOC) environment, the Command and Control Weapon System Part Task Trainer (C2WSPTT). This low-cost, high-fidelity M&S capability enables AOC units to train in garrison without outside agency support.
Ternion, who was contracted by the Air Force 505th Communications Squadron, developed the C2WSPTT, for which a key component to its successful operation was using Ternion’s FLAMES as its M&S development framework.
As a custom, FLAMES-based simulation, C2WSPTT has provided constructive simulation in live-virtual-constructive training exercises, and over the course of its use, it has seen integration with the Theater Battle Management Core Systems and other AOC weapon system components.
“What makes our simulations innovative, is that they allow training to be deployed to operators’ home stations,” said Brad Spearing, Ternion president and FLAMES product manager. “Many current simulations require many computers and several people to operate them, which means they need a dedicated training facility. Our simulations can run on one computer and with just a few operators, so they’re easier to deploy and represent a closer step to the ‘embedded training’ paradigm the military is pivoting towards to improve training quality and reduce training costs.”
Military commanders use command-and-control systems, often referred to as “C2” systems, to organize and manage the vast amounts of information they need to receive and transmit (in a two-way street) when leading service members. C2 systems involve the people, processes and technology required to employ air, space, ground, and naval forces in accomplishing a variety of missions. Computer simulations are regularly used to train C2 operators throughout the military, to include those who work in an AOC.
“The C2WSPTT simulator allows AOC operators to apply their skills to different environments,” said Air Force Lt. Col. David Armitage, director of operations for the Air Force’s 505th Training Squadron. “I like to consider it ‘network gaming on steroids.’ It allows us to dial the intensity to high, medium, or low to get a realistic experience of what adversary forces may show us in a real-world scenario.”
The trainer provides real-time interactive control of scenarios to inject a variety of situations, such as vectoring or scrambling aircraft, controlling missions, launching missiles, neutralizing enemy assets, simulating equipment failures, and closing bases. Since C2WSPTT was established, it has received the U.S. Air Force Modeling and Simulation Award in the cross-functional category in 2002, 2005 and 2007.
Ternion’s FLAMES products have also improved readiness for the Marine Corps and NATO allies by providing similar training experiences.