For the U.S. Air Force's F-16 Aircrew Training Device (ATD) program, Link Simulation & Training is responsible for the operation, maintenance and support of F-16 aircrew and maintenance trainers currently being used by the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and foreign militaries worldwide.

In support of the program, Link initially provided modern PC host and image generation technologies to 12 F-16 Weapons Systems Trainers (WST) that had been delivered by the company between 1982 and 1989. The PC rehost, which replaced a 50' x 50' room of computers with 12 PCs housed in two cabinets, will enable the trainers to include the full suite of F-16 weapons and sensor systems and allow for networked training not currently possible in the legacy F-16 WSTs.

The PC host and image generation solution uses commercial off-the-shelf computing equipment that Link enhanced to support simulation requirements. The PC image generator, Link's SimuView^TM system, supports imagery out-the-window, on the cockpits' multi-function displays and in the head-up-display.

The Air Force also has called on Link to replace the existing host computers on all of the F-16 Block 30 UTDs - 34 simulators in all - with Link PC technology. The UTD is a medium fidelity device for individual squadron level training that Link delivered to the Air Force between 1996 and 2000. This upgrade will allow for commonality between F-16 UTD and F-16 WST software baselines.

The Air Force and Air National Guard also have collectively purchased 13 Link SimuSphere^TM visual system displays for integration on both F-16 WSTs and UTDs. This improved capability provides front line training squadrons, for the first time ever, with trainers that are integrated with 360° field-of-view visual displays.

In 2005, Link will begin fielding simulated night vision goggles for use on all 12 F-16 WSTs and 32 F-16 UTDs. The ability to add night vision goggle simulation points back to new system expandability afforded by the recent computer rehost to F-16 training devices.