Link Developing Training Suite for USAF F-22

By MICHAEL SIRAK; JDW Staff Reporter; Washington DC
Link Simulation and Training, a division of L-3 Communications, is developing a suite of pilot-training devices for the US Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor air-superiority fighter programme.
The devices, which vary in fidelity depending on the task they are intended to perform, are designed to familiarise pilots with the Raptor’s cockpit features and teach them flying skills before they step into the actual Lockheed Martin aircraft.
Link is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, and has been involved in the F-22 programme since 1997. In January, it received a $26 million production contract to deliver the first two F-22 Full Mission Trainers (FMTs), along with four Weapons Tactics Trainers (WTTs) in February 2003 to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, the home of the USAF’s ‘school house’ Raptor training centre.
The FMT will offer the highest fidelity of any F-22 simulator. Dominick Farinella, who directs Link’s F-22 programme, said the device includes a simulated cockpit featuring colour LCD multi-function displays, a simulated heads-up display and an integrated cockpit control panel. The cockpit is linked with a full 360° field-of-view visual display that projects simulated scenarios, including friendly and threat aircraft and natural and tactical environments.

















The F-22 Full Mission Trainer’s cockpit sits
on a fixed base and is integrated with a high- resolution image-generation system. It is coupled with Link’s SimuSphere nine-panel visual system display.

The FMT uses much of the same avionics software from the actual aircraft. The device will support training tasks, including formation flight, air refuelling, take-off and landing, emergency procedures and weapons delivery during air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

The trainer includes an instructor’s station that allows the instructor to insert variables like aircraft malfunctions into a scenario. It also has recording and de-brief equipment and can operate either as a stand-alone unit or networked with three other FMTs to allow the pilots to fly missions together.

"Compared to high-end simulators of 10 years ago, the F-22 Full Mission Trainer costs less, while providing a significant performance improvement," Farinella said.
The WTT is a smaller, high-fidelity system designed primarily for classroom use. It will teach pilots stick and throttle procedures and how to employ weapon systems like the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition with simulated controls and displays representing the main F-22 instrument panel. It will use the same software as the FMT.
The Link training devices are part of the robust and comprehensive F-22 training programme being developed by Boeing. Pam Valdez, Boeing’s F-22 training systems manager, said this package comprises roughly a 110-day training course for pilot candidates. They begin with classroom academics and progress to the WTT for learning in a one-on-one atmosphere with an instructor. The candidates will then transition to the FMT, which she noted is like "essentially flying the aircraft". Finally, they will progress to the actual aircraft.
In addition to the FMT and WTT, Link is developing for Boeing an Egress Procedures Trainer (EPT) in which pilots learn how to conduct in-flight egress under emergency conditions and use the aircraft’s life-support systems, ranging from ejection to canopy separation procedures. It features a high-fidelity ejection seat and full operational canopy.
Boeing is also overseeing the development of seven dedicated F-22 maintenance trainers that focus on the aft section; armaments; cockpit and forward fuselage; fuel systems; landing gear; on-equipment structures; and seat and canopy. Link is building all but the fuel systems and onboard structures trainers, which USM of Houston, Texas, is developing.
These devices will allow technicians to train in inspecting, removing, checking and replacing components from all sections of the aircraft.
USAF and company officials say this total training package is an integral part of the F-22 programme. As a reflection of its importance, they note that the programme has matured the training element concurrent to the Raptor’s other elements. Training funding is captured in the cost of the overall system and has not been treated as a separate entity, which would be more vulnerable to funding cuts. Once fielded, the USAF intends to upgrade the training devices in synchronisation with modifications to the aircraft.
The USAF will begin fielding the stealthy F-22 aircraft over the next several years.
It intends to achieve an initial operational capability in December 2005 with three 24-aircraft Raptor squadrons plus six spare aircraft based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (Jane’s Defence Weekly 30 January).
Brig Gen Jay Jabour, the USAF’s F-22 system programme director, told JDW that the service plans to buy 25 FMTs, 37 WTTs and six EPTs.
It will purchase the trainers in phases that coincide with lot buys of the aircraft, he added. It will likely base four FMTs, along with one WTT and one EPT at each F-22 operating location. The remaining trainers will be located at Tyndall and with individual Raptor operational squadrons, he added.
According to Link, the service is also interested in up to 15 maintenance trainers.
The USAF plans around 2006 to incorporate the FMTs into its nascent Distributed Mission Training (DMT) network. This network will allow combat pilots of various platforms to train together for large composite air operations and jointly rehearse missions using high-fidelity simulators.
The service has already established DMT training centres for F-15 and F-16 fighter platforms and the Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft (JDW 17 October 2001).
Boeing and Link officials said the integrated product team they have set up has allowed them to apply the best of both companies into the training devices. "We work almost like a seamless team," said Valdez. "It has been an outstanding relationship."