Simulation: Where to now for JCTC? | ADM May 2010
Julian Kerr | Sydney
A 2010-2015 JCTC development plan (roadmap), which is just being completed in its first draft for circulation to all ADF simulation training stakeholders, envisages the JCTC providing enhanced bilateral training using integrated Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) simulation for joint and combined high-end collective training and mission rehearsal exercises.
Development of the JCTC plan commenced began last year after JCTC had received longer-term funding guidance to not only sustain its operational baseline but also grow its training capabilities.
The roadmap foreshadows JCTC not only supporting current warfighter training but also the future battle by the introduction of new LVC capabilities in support of the entry into ADF service of the F/A-18E Super Hornet, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) and the Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).
Lieutenant Colonel John Duff, Director of the JCTC, told ADM that with so much change, especially in technology, it was not possible to say exactly how the capability would look in five years' time, but the next stage in JCTC's growth path would be the development of a Joint Distributed Operations Centre (JDOC).
This was part of the planning accompanying JCTC's relocation to a purpose ‘fitted-out' facility in Fyshwick, Canberra by mid-year.
"This would mean we could distribute operational assets into the training space, wherever that happens to be," he commented.
"That could be for anything from Battlegroup level up to joint and/or combined task force operations.
"We work very closely with Army's Simulation Wing, have connectivity with the Navy's Maritime Warfare Training System, and we have full integration with the RAAF's Hornet Aircrew Training Simulators."
Further impetus to the use of simulation in ADF training has been provided by the Chief of Defence Force's (CDF) Directive 22/09, issued last year, which makes JCTC a focal point of contact for ADF exercise planners to develop simulation plans as part of collective training.
The intention is not only to make training more cost-efficient but also to enhance training effectiveness by integrating platforms and assets that either may not be readily available for training or can be provided to the training audience by simulation at a fraction of the cost.
LTCOL Duff emphasised that such simulation solutions were not designed to replace the live fire training that was essential for mission rehearsal exercises but rather to enhance the overall collective training continuum.
"JCTC now fits into a broader training remit with a much closer focus on the use of simulation to achieve training outcomes, whether that be in ADF force preparation or single service warfighter training," he said.
"We do see in a very short to medium period of time having the capability here in Canberra (JCTC is part of Headquarters Joint Operations Command [HQJOC] at Bungendore) to be able to put command groups through their paces in a fully synthetic training environment.
"Over two-thirds of the Order of Battle for Exercise Talisman Sabre 09 consisted of virtual and constructive entities, so moving towards a JDOC is an obvious option for the Australian JCTC."
The procurement process is already underway for JCTC to obtain low fidelity, low cost desk-top simulations for the JSF and Super Hornet, as well as for the AC-130 gunship and the US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance/attack helicopter.
"We will also procure a low fidelity AWD simulator when that comes down the track; we want to start getting ahead of the game by providing joint training effects for future training," LTCOL Duff told ADM.
Humble roots
Given the JCTC's current state of maturity, it's easy to forget the scope and the timelines of what started out as Joint Project 2098.
This was a paced progressive project which only got underway in 2005 as the Australian end of a joint AU-US initiative to provide an enduring architecture linking the two countries' training management systems, training ranges and areas, simulations, and instrumented live forces.
JCTC Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and US Proof of Concept was achieved on schedule to support Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007 (TS07).
This demonstrated initial capabilities, combining LVC simulation.
The backbone of the system is the Australian Defence Training and Experimentation Network (DTEN) which is now connected under permanent availability arrangements to the US Joint Training and Experimentation Network (JTEN).
Since TS07, the JCTC has been further developed and was extensively used by the RAAF in Exercise Pitch Black in 2008.
This saw the integration of Australian Special Forces and virtual US capabilities, including the E-8C Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, the RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft, Predator UAV, and the F-16CJ.
Speaking immediately prior to the start of Talisman Sabre 09 in July last year, Lieutenant-General David Hurley, Vice-Chief of the ADF, told delegates to the SIMTECT 2009 conference in Adelaide that major JCTC deliverables included the Australian DTEN.
Other achievements include the instrumented Urban Operations Training Facility (UOTF) at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), the instrumented joint fires (JDAM capable) range at the Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA), which includes a state-of-the-art Weapons Impact Scoring System (WISS) and Training Area Surveillance and Safety System (TASSS).
Most significantly, the JCTC provides the capability to train with high-demand, low density assets such as unmanned aerial vehicles, gunships and other allied platforms not readily available for training in Australia.
"The JCTC has exponentially expanded joint and combined training opportunities by tying Australia into the US Global Training Grid," LTGEN Hurley commented.
For LTCOL Duff, TS09 represented a stringent test of the JCTC attributes listed by LTGEN Hurley.
The focus of the exercise was on operational and tactical interoperability through a high-end, medium intensity scenario.
This involved a range of live forces and virtual and constructive simulations generated across Australia and the US and injected into the exercise.
The live element saw Australian and US land, sea and air force elements operating from ADF facilities throughout Queensland including Shoalwater Bay, the Northern Territory Delamere Air Weapons Range facility, Bradshaw Field Training Area and Mount Bundy training areas as well as airspace over the Northern Territory, port facilities in Queensland, and designated marine areas within the Coral, Timor and Arafura seas.
With command of TS09 residing in Hawaii, the maritime element at sea, most land forces at Shoalwater Bay and most of the air operation taking place over the Northern Territory, it could be argued that the geographic separation worked against the concept of a truly joint and combined exercise.
However, as pointed out by LTCOL Duff, at the highest level of operational command, everything came together in the CJTF HQ common operating picture.
"We were able to network command and control systems.
"Communications were excellent, and the bottom line is that geographical separation and vast distances proved no obstacle for the network."
Exercise firsts included utilising Link 16 to place virtual and constructive simulated entities directly into the cockpits of some participating aircraft, and live forces in the SWBTA wearing instrumentation systems being impacted in real time by a virtual AC-130 gunship "flown" from Hurlburt Air Force Base in Florida.
Other uses
JCTC is currently supporting a series of command post exercises for Army's1st Division leading up to Exercise Hamel in the final quarter of this year.
The JCTC is also supporting Army's Combat Training Centre in mission rehearsal exercises for the Mentoring Task Force (MTF) in Afghanistan, as it also did for the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force deployments.
This involves virtual constructs, mainly UAVs and eCAS (emergency close air support), together with the provision of WHITEFOR video telecommunications and other networked exercise control enablers.
Some role-playing and other undisclosed exercise support from JCTC is also being provided to support Special Forces Command mission rehearsals.
The network's satellite capability means these training effects can be delivered to and from remote locations far from the 10 to 12 nodes already available in most of the ADF's major training areas and some bases.
Notice of about a month is required to initiate bilateral activity with the US via the JCTC, meaning system availability has been reached, but not connectivity.
Although the gateways are already in place, synchronisation and programming is necessary to ensure the relevant resources are available.
During Exercise Pitch Black 08 and again for this year's Pitch Black, the backbone of the ‘Redland' ground-based air defence system was and will be provided by the US Pacific Air Force's Joint Deployable EW Range.
This creates a mobile, high fidelity simulation of SA3/6/8/10 ground-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery systems for Blue Air to fight through in the airspace.
At present Australia, Canada and the UK all have bilateral relationships with the US on cooperation in the synthetic training environment, resulting in inevitable overlaps.
A coalition LVC federation is the obvious longer term solution, and US Joint Forces Command is developing a JTEN enclave.
Currently, when Australia joins the JTEN, the US Navy (USN) and US Air Force (USAF) disconnect due to their security concerns.
In addition, Australia has to disconnect its national command and control (C2) from the DTEN.
The establishment of a JTEN Enclave is intended to:
• Facilitate binational activities e.g. Australia/UK, US/Canada etc;
• permit national C2 systems to remain linked to their networks (DTEN in the case of Australia);
• provide an additional security level which is acceptable to the USN and USAF for their continued connection to the JTEN (this will allow Australia to receive USN and USAF virtual and constructive enablers).
"If we fight together we have to train together, and LVC enables us to do that in the most realistic and vastly cost effective manner," LTCOL Duff told ADM.
"As a consequence it is imperative that the ADF continues to develop the JCTC capabilities to the same level as our strategic partners.
"JCTC does not develop the training scenarios per say but rather ensures we deliver to training audience mission-essential tasks and the relevant training objectives.
"By this JCTC aims to ensure that joint training enablers are all provided to the training audience to ensure we train as we would fight."
Industry involvement
JCTC relies heavily on industry for support and development, a vital role readily acknowledged by LTCOL Duff.
"It's one thing to have contracts in place, but I make no bones about the fact that our capability is very much enhanced by industry partnership," he commented.
Perth-based Calytrix Technologies had its contract renewed in March as the key provider to the JCTC of its technical systems and support.
This involves network development and support, simulation systems development, integration and support as well as exercise surge support.
Capabilities resident in this group and the expertise that has been developed exist in only a few other militaries in the world, LTCOL Duff commented.
Newcastle-based Milskil Pty Ltd, embedded in the delivery of RAAF operational conversion training, has a three-year contract to provide JCTC Opposition Forces and EW training support and role player support.
Calytrix Training Systems (CaTS) was selected for a similar period as the key provider of JCTC Blue Force role players and Human Terrain into designated Force Command JCTC-supported exercises.
Other companies involved in enhancing JCTC's development, sustainment and delivery include Cubic Defence Australia (for live instrumentation and air land integration systems), QinetiQ (as a partner with Calytrix for technical support and reachback) and Sydac (for professional services).
While ongoing network and simulation development is included in the Calytrix Technologies contract, JP3021 Phase 1 is intended to procure a deployable electronic warfare (EW) range capability, thus expanding the functionality of the JCTC to assist in training on EW systems and the responses to EW threats.
The core of the capability is likely to be acquired as off-the-shelf solutions from allied sources on a government-to-government basis.
The year of decision is understood to have been brought forward to 2011, presumably also moving the IOC ahead to 2012-2013.
Anticipated cost is considerably less than $100 million.