US Air Force awards contracts for Moroccan P5 air Combat Training System

5138

The US Air Force has contracted Cubic Defense Applications to supply the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) with the P5 Combat Training System (P5 CTS) to provide Moroccan pilots with realistic air combat simulation training in line with the country’s force modernisation requirements.

According to information posted on the US Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) register, the US-based company is a provider of live and virtual training systems as well as military electronics systems. The P5 CTS developed jointly by Cubic Defense Applications and DSR Technologies is designed to provide real time training for air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air combat missions by recording mission data, relay time, space and positioning information between participating aircraft during training sorties.

The P5 CTS is defined as a fifth-generation system which includes Global Positioning System-enabled aircraft-mounted airborne instrumentation packages and ground stations. It is designed to help air force crews to conduct, monitor and control air combat training and provide post-flight debriefing.

The system features pods which are carried by all aircraft engaged in training exercises and continuously share location and weapons data between all participating aircraft through data-links.

It can be adapted for use on most fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and can simulate longer-range engagements than earlier systems.

The acquisition of the $5.5 million system represents a major upgrade of the RMAF air combat training capabilities. It comes two months after US-based L-3 Link Simulation and Training completed the upgrading of a fielded F-16C Block 52 Air Crew Training Device (ATD) and achieved a ready-for-training status on a second F-16C Block 52 ATD. The two flight simulators are installed at the RMAF’s Ben Guerir Air Base where they are being used to train pilots on advanced air-to-air and ground-to-air combat skills.
“Each F-16C Block 52 ATD is integrated with L-3 Link’s nine-panel, 360-degree field-of-view SimuSphere visual display and SimuView personal computer image generation system which produces correlated out-the-window and cockpit sensor display imagery. During simulation exercises, pilots are able to acquire and identify targets, deliver a wide range of ordnance, practice takeoffs and landings, conduct aerial in-flight refuelling, undertake low-level flight manoeuvres and practise emergency handling procedures,” the company said.

Dan Kelly, L-3 Link’s Vice President for Air Force Programmes hailed the setting up of the advanced flight simulation system in Morocco as a demonstration of US commitment towards the air combat readiness of one of its key North African allies.
“Achieving these milestones is a testament to the collective commitment between the U.S. Air Force, Royal Moroccan Air Force and L-3 Link Simulation & Training to develop highly advanced flight simulators that cost-effectively maintain pilot mission readiness. This state-of-the-art simulation system enables pilots to perform a full spectrum of combat training while operating as a tactical team.”

The Royal Moroccan Air Force received 24 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft between August 2011 and August 2012.