Investment Strategies For Improving Fifth-generation Fighter Training

Synopsis

It Is Increasingly Difficult To Train Combat Aircrews The Way They Will Fight. U.s. Air Force Experts Believe That The Increased Use Of Simulators; Distributed Mission Operations; And Live, Virtual, And Constructive (lvc) Training Are Required To Improve Training. The Authors Determine That Realistic Training Requirements For 5th-generation Fighter Aircraft Are Not Well Documented In Any Standard Air Force Reference. However, Using A Variety Of Data Sources To Assess The Quality Of Current Training, They Conclude That There Is Strong Evidence For A Training Gap. The Authors Show That High Costs Of Providing Adversary Aircraft In Live Training Mean That, In The Long Run, Developing The Lvc Ability To Inject Threats Into Live Aircraft May Be The Only Fiscally Responsible Approach To Improving Training. The Air Force Must Systematically Document Currently Unattainable Training Needs. Lvc Technology Holds The Potential To Make The Best And Most Affordable Use Of Live Training. However, The Technical Risk In Much Lvc Technology Is Currently Too High To Shift Primary Focus To This Approach. Instead, The Air Force Should (1) Be More Consistent And Thorough In Funding For Networked Simulators And (2) Make Smaller, Targeted Investments In The Development Of Lvc Technology.--rand Website. Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. One Introduction -- Background -- The Problems According To Acc -- Fifth-generation Lvc Reality -- Simulators And Mission Training Centers -- Networks -- Centers -- Research Approach And Organization Of This Technical Report -- Ch. Two Training Gap For Fifth-generation Fighter Units -- Fifth-generation Training Requirements -- Examples That Argue For The Existence Of A Fifth-generation Training Gap -- An Insatiable Demand For Red Air -- Range And Airspace Limitations -- Lack Of Documentation For Training Requirements -- Combat Air Forces' Training Survey Information -- Interpreting The Data -- More Simulator Training Should Be Required -- Live Training Rap Minimums Need To Be Achieved -- An F-15c Illustrative Example On Training Distribution -- Chapter Summary. Ch. Three Closing The Fifth-generation Fighter Unit Training Gap -- Approaches To Filling A Training Gap -- Different Approaches Require Different Investments -- Expectation Of Increased Use Of Simulators For The F-22 -- Modeling The Use Of Mission Training Centers To Make Live Training More Effective -- Estimating The Costs Of Different Options -- How Much Should The Air Force Be Willing To Invest In Lvc? -- Ch. Four An Lvc Investment Strategy -- Significant Factors That Affect Investment Decisions -- Recommendations -- Appendixes -- A. Linear Program For Distributing Live And Simulator Mission Sorties -- B. Acc/afrl Survey Questionnaire -- C. Cost Calculations -- D. Potential Consequences Of Reducing Funding For Live Sorties. John A. Ausink ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References. Also Available Via The Internet.