2018
U.S. Funded Australian Joint Fires Trainer Opens in Jordan
Titan IM, Calytrix Technologies, and Virtual Simulation Systems (VSS) have
recently completed the design, build, and installation of a Joint Fires Trainer
for the Jordan Armed Forces. The facility was formally opened and declared
ready for training by senior members of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) and
the US Embassy in Amman in October 2017.
The contract for the supply and installation of the new capability was
awarded to the collaborative group of Titan, Calytrix, and VSS after a
competitive tender process by Global Maritime Services, a division of
US-based VSE Corporation. VSE had been tasked by the NAVSEA Program
Office to procure, fabricate, integrate, install, test, validate, and have
accepted into service, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and Joint
Fires simulator to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Coined the Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer (SAVT) by the JAF, the simulator
will be used to support the training, operational readiness, and tactical
proficiency of JAF Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC)/Tactical Air Control
Party (TACP), Forward Air Controllers (FAC), and Forward Observer (FO)
personnel during day, dusk, and night operations. The entire system was
developed to meet the requirements for accreditation in accordance with
the JFS ESC MOA.
The SAVT represents a comprehensive Joint Fires training capability and includes the provision of:
• All software, including the Titan Vanguard simulation system
• Two (2) integrated Part Task Trainers (PTT)
• A range of Emulated Military Equipment
• Instructor and control stations
• A full curriculum required to conduct JTAC training
• In-country technical support
• In-country instructors and trainers
Newcastle based Virtual Simulation Systems provided the system's 12-
channel projection dome, replica JTAC devices, and other hardware. VSS
CEO David Lagettie said of the project, "Working with a tightly integrated
software environment and a world-class team made implementing the
SAVT a joy. We are very proud of the result and the capability our team has
offered to Jordan is among the best in use anywhere."
The SAVT represents a significant advancement for the integration and
training of coalition forces engaged in combating terrorism in the region.
The ability for the JAF to train and qualify on the system will allow for much
closer cooperation with regional and global partners including the US. In
the short time that it has been open, the SAVT facility has been visited by a
number of high-level military and foreign dignitaries including the
Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General, the Honourable Sir
Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).
The Chief Operations Officer of Newcastle based Titan IM, Phil Gilson, said that the project, ‘sees a significant milestone for the Australian companies involved. We were able to compete against major overseas bidders and deliver a competitively priced system in under six months from contract signature'.
Phil further noted, ‘the project represents an end to end capability. All the hardware and software components were developed locally, and the group is providing comprehensive training and technical support.'
CEO of the Perth based Calytrix Technologies, Shawn Parr, said, ‘The Jordanian SAVT conclusively demonstrates our capability, as an Australian group of companies to effectively compete and deliver world-class simulation based training capabilities anywhere in the world without the need for a prime integrator. Our group also provided all the training design and curriculum development and will provide in-country technical and instructor support. Vanguard is showing its flexibility and cost- effectiveness as a tool which can be adapted across a range of simulation and simulator requirements without the need for costly and complex integration'.