Synthetic Training Environment—Live Training System (STE LTS)

The Synthetic Training Environment – Live Training System (STE-LTS) is part of the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) and serves as Increment 2 of the overall STE program capability development effort.  The STE-LTS will converge live training with the Synthetic Training Environment (STE), providing units the sets and repetitions necessary to accelerate and sustain combined arms maneuver proficiency in support of Multi-Domain Operations. STE-LTS will also enable interoperability with our joint and coalition partners.  At the center of STE-LTS is the development of the 12 engagement types and 5 instrumentation enablers (“12+5”).  The engagement types are: Direct Fire, Counter-Defilade Fire, Indirect Fire, Dropped Objects, Placed Objects, Thrown Objects, Guided and Autonomous Weapons, Directed Energy and Radiant Energy Weapons, Plumes, and Connections (Information Warfare).  The “+5” instrumentation enablers are: Calculations, Network, Sensors, Terrains, and Transmitters.

Today, the Army cannot train as it fights.  The challenge with Force-on-Force (FoF) training is that only 60% of a Brigade Combat Team’s weapon system are represented in live training.  Weapons with arcing trajectories or that create area effects are not represented with the current technology.   Furthermore, weather effects, obscurants, and vegetation prevent existing live training solutions from simulating FoF engagements. With forthcoming weapon systems, the list of live training gaps will only increase.  The Government is interested in mature solutions to close live training gaps associated with simulating FoF engagements with direct fire and short range indirect (Counter Defilade) weapons.

In the near team, the STE-LTS team is seeking advanced, capable and mature direct fire solutions to replace the end of life direct fire engagement enablers and introduce indirect fire enablers into the live training environment. The solutions must integrate with current live training system architectures, to include Live Training Engagement Composition, the range communication systems and the Common Training Instrumentation Architecture.  The mature engagement solutions have to progress to enable a successful conversion with STE enterprise architecture and its associated systems (e.g. Training Simulation Software, Training Management Tools, One World Terrain (OWT) and Integrated Visual Augmentation System/Squad immersive Virtual Trainer.  The FoF engagement systems will adhere to modular open system approach concepts in the design, development and sustainment activities, with the intent of integrating into the STE architecture.

In support of the upcoming STE-LTS Request for Solutions (RFS), the Government anticipates holding a Project TALX webinar on MS Teams, designed to serve as a transparent forum for sharing project information.  The moderated discussion will include various lessons learned, current & future expectations, upcoming timelines, and key technology/focus areas to facilitate the STE-LTS prototypes development.  A brief questions and answers session will also be held. A draft RFS is slated for release mid-late January 2021. The Project TALX webinar is scheduled for early February 2021; additional details to follow.

Background:

The Synthetic Training Environment – Live Training System (STE-LTS) is part of the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) and serves as Increment 2 of the overall STE program.  The STE-LTS will converge Live training with Synthetic training into the STE and enable interoperability with Joint and Coalition partners.  At the center of STE-LTS is the development of the 12 engagement types and 5 instrumentation enablers (“12+5”).  The engagement types are: Direct Fire, Counter-Defilade Fire, Indirect Fire, Dropped Objects, Placed Objects, Thrown Objects, Guided and Autonomous Weapons, Directed Energy and Radiant Energy Weapons, Plumes, and Connections (Information Warfare).  The “Plus 5” instrumentation enablers are: Calculations, Network, Sensors, Terrains, and Transmitters.

Today, the Army cannot train as it fights.  The challenge with Force-on-Force (FoF) training is that only 60% of a Brigade Combat Team’s weapon system are represented in live training.  Weapons with arcing trajectories or that create area effects are not represented with the current technology.   Furthermore, weather effects, obscurants, and vegetation prevent existing live training solutions from simulating FoF engagements. With forthcoming weapon systems, the list of live training gaps will only increase. The Government is interested in mature solutions to close live training gaps associated with simulating FoF engagements with direct fire and short range indirect (Counter Defilade) weapons.

Requirement:

In the near team, the STE LTS team is seeking advanced, capable and mature direct fire solution to replace the end of life direct fire engagement enablers and introduce indirect fire enabler into the Live training environment. The solutions must integrate with current live training system architecture to include Live Training Engagement Composition (LTEC), the range communication systems and the Common Training Instrumentation Architecture (CTIA).  The mature engagement solutions has to progress to enable a successful conversion with STE enterprise architecture and its associated systems (e.g. TSMT, OWT, IVAS).  The FoF engagement systems will adhere to modular open system approach concepts in the design, development and sustainment activities.

In support of the upcoming STE-Live Request for Solutions (RFS), the Government anticipates holding a Project TALX webinar on Teams designed to serve as a transparent forum for sharing project information.  The moderated discussion will include various lessons learned, current & future expectations, upcoming timelines, and key technology/focus areas to facilitate the STE-Live prototype and a brief question and answer session. Draft RFS slated for release mid-late January 2021. The Project TALX webinar is scheduled for early 2^nd Quarter FY2021; additional details to follow.