Additional MetaVR Visuals Ordered for USAF Sim Program

The Joint Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) has ordered 171 new MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licenses for the MALET-JSIL Aircrew Trainer (MJAT) training capability.

The MetaVR real-time 3D licenses are coupled with government off-the-shelf software to create a ground control station (GCS) simulator for training pilots and sensor operators of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), as an upgrade to the U.S. Air Force (USAF)’s Predator/Reaper Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) program. The existing PMATS devices are being progressively shipped to the Joint Technology Center/System Integration Laboratory (JSIL) facility in Huntsville, Alabama, where the original PMATS configuration is being upgraded with the newly updated simulation software suite.

Designed to provide crew training for U.S. Air Force MQ-9operators, the MJAT is a roll-up system that appends to a tactical MQ-9 GCS inorder to convert it to a training simulator. It provides RPAS operators theability to conduct simulation training as part of qualification and follow-ontraining to maintain proficiency and currency in all required tasks.

The complete MJAT family of systems includes the MJAT aswell as the MJAT Stand Alone Trainer (MSAT), which uses GCS-like hardware toprovide a training-only solution; and the Desk Top Trainer, which is used forclassroom familiarization training.

The deployment of MJAT began in 2016, with 56 systemsinstalled at U.S. Air Force sites across the country. JSIL purchased additionalVRSG licenses in 2019, and these new 171 licenses will support the continuedroll-out of MJAT as an upgrade to the U.S. Air Force PMATS program.

Like other JSIL-developed RPAS/UAS trainers, the embeddedMJAT uses the Air Force Synthetic Environment for Reconnaissance andSurveillance software to stimulate the tactical vehicle control software tosimulate GCS functions: air vehicle control, payload control, weapons control,communications, send and receive video data, and mission planning.

VRSG simulates the GCS camera payload by streaming real-timeHD-quality H.264 video with KLV metadata. This allows operators to train usingthe same hardware that they use while flying actual, real-world missions,simulating real ISR systems and interoperating with networked Joint TerminalAttack Controller (JTAC) simulators.

The MJAT simulator also uses Battlespace Simulations' ModernAir Combat Environment (MACE) for scenario creation andcomputer-generated/semi-automated forces. As this software is also used by JTACsimulators, systems that use MACE and VRSG can enable training for Reaper operatorsand JTACs in a joint, simulated training environment that can identicallyreplicate real-world missions via Combat Air Force Distributed MissionOperations.