LVC Allocator: Aligning training value with scenario design for envisioned LVC training of fast-jet pilots

Abstract

Live virtual constructive (LVC) flight simulations mix pilots flying actual aircraft, pilots flying in simulators, and computer-generated forces, in joint scenarios. Training resources invested in LVC scenarios must give a high return, and therefore pilots in both live aircraft and simulators need to experience training value for the extensive resources invested in both, an aspect not emphasized in current LVC research. Thus, there is a need for a function, in this article described as LVC Allocator, which assures that complex LVC training scenarios include aspects of training value for all participants, and, thus, purposefully align scenario design with training value. A series of workshops were carried out with 16 fast-jet pilots articulating the training challenges that LVC could contribute to solving, and allocating LVC entities in a training scenario design exercise. The training values for LVC included large scenarios, weapon delivery, flight safety, adversary performance, and weather dependence. These values guided the reasoning of how to allocate different entities to L, V, or C entities. Allocations were focused on adversaries as V, keeping entity types together, weather dependence, low-altitude and supersonic flying requirements, and to let L entities handle and lead complex tasks to keep the human in the loop.

A live mindset in Live Virtual Constructive simulations: a spin-up for future LVC air combat training

“…LVC allocation is part of detailing and preparing the prerequisites, but is a separate and constructive design exercise which allows pilots to think through desired training objectives for each included entity. 18 This study shows that it is fruitful to stage an LVC-T scenario in a simulator, and more importantly that doing so provides crucial information to assess the scenario in terms of expected future LVC-T value, possible improvements to the scenario (e.g., in terms of allocation of L-, V-, and Centities), as well as identifying potential risks. Without some form of pre-evaluation, a LVC-T scenario and its alignment to desired training objectives, as well as aspects of safety before actually carrying it out for real, may result in unmet training objectives and safety risks.…”

“…64,65 Our and other studies' results suggest that LVC-T definitely has merit for certain scenarios. The vision of LVC-T in everyday training (that a Live aircraft on relatively short notice can train with Virtual and Constructive entities with relatively little planning, resources, and logistics involved compared with Live-only flying 66 ) in Sweden still will take some years to become technically implemented and regulatorily approved, but this study aimed to contribute to its exploration, maturation, and risk reduction, as well as clarifying the benefits of LVC-T.…”

“…16 To meet this need, a design-based research 17 LVC Allocator workshop series with fighter pilots was conducted. 18 The LVC Allocator workshops investigated the LVC concept and how the introduction of LVC-T could help mitigate difficulties in ordinary Live and simulator training. In addition, the fighter pilots designed LVC-T scenarios and allocations of L-, V-, and C-entities and their tasks/missions with the goal to ascertain that operators in both Live and Virtual aircraft receive good training value.…”

“…In addition, the fighter pilots designed LVC-T scenarios and allocations of L-, V-, and C-entities and their tasks/missions with the goal to ascertain that operators in both Live and Virtual aircraft receive good training value. 18 In the current article, the experienced value of one of these scenarios and of the methodology employed is investigated based on reflections by the participants on the scenario design, allocation of entities, the methodology, and LVC-T at large.…”

Review of Live-Virtual-Constructive Simulation Technology

“…Based on LVC simulation technology and TENA technology framework, a method to construct an experimental platform is proposed to supply sustainment for tests of weapons and equipment as well as comprehensive assessment of system capabilities, under the background of systematic combat [29]. The typical application of LVC technology in air combat training and test are listed, similarly knowledge on LVC training can be found in [30][31][32][33][34]. Literatures of LVC methods on scholarly research can be reached at [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50].…”