CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (May 19, 2015) - With military officials in attendance, Rockwell Collins performed the first successful Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) air combat training flight using production JSAS (Joint Secure Air combat training System) equipment. The form, fit, function production equipment includes Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) encryption in both the airborne and ground systems.

"JSAS is the next generation of secure, LVC-capable training solutions, providing seamless interoperability between 5th generation F-35 and legacy aircraft as they train together in coalition events," said Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager of Surface Solutions for Rockwell Collins. "This exercise highlighted that 5th-Gen and 4th-Gen aircraft pilots can both see significant training benefit when simulating a high threat combat environment."

The exercise used production form-factor equipment from the Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) program, both the MILS airborne package and MILS ground station. The CRIIS program implements the DoD's vision of common test and training infrastructure for improved operational realism.

The multi-level, secure connection of Live, Virtual and Constructive participants is the critical link needed to increase the depth and density of combat training. This capability brings the warfighter red flag experience without the logistics challenge of collocating assets and provides real-time feedback to limit negative training. In addition, the demonstration included over-the-air reloading of keys on the fly, demonstrating how military customers could change from one training scenario to another without landing the aircraft.

The LVC demonstration included:

  • A live Aero L-29 jet trainer with the JSAS equipment onboard, emulating a 5th-Gen F-35 fighter, operated by the University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab (OPL) in Iowa
  • A virtual F/A-18 4th-Gen aircraft simulator, operating as the wingman for the Aero L-29 pilot, at the Rockwell Collins Advanced Technology Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • A live Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) located at the Rockwell Collins facility in Orlando, Fla.
  • Constructive "Red Force" aircraft and ground threats, generated by Department of Defense Computer Generated Forces (CGF) tools
  • Separate "mission rooms" for live monitor of F-35 and F-18 data, showing MILS separation

Dodson added, "This LVC exercise demonstrates that the key technologies from the CRIIS program are real. The MILS architecture and equipment are real, and certified. The software-defined datalink is real, and it has five times more network throughput than existing training systems to handle the LVC traffic. You can see significantly higher training fidelity than with the current generation systems, and we even reconfigured it while in flight to get 2½ hours of training value in a 1½ hour flight. The demo shows that the training benefit is real, the equipment is real, and it is available right now. LVC on production form, fit, function equipment is finally here."

To view a video of the LVC demonstration, please go to https://youtu.be/OswBDDUeL10.

About Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, simulation and training, and information management is delivered by a global workforce, and a service and support network that crosses more than 150 countries.www.rockwellcollins.com.

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