Networked Electronic Warfare Training System (NEWTS)

Training aircrew to fly modern combat aircraft is a tremendous challenge. To train properly, US and Allied aircrew need to be confronted with numerous simulated surface and air threats simultaneously. Training scenarios of this density and variety give aircrew the ability to recognize and react for survival with appropriate maneuvers, expendable countermeasures, and electronic jamming. Additionally, realistic training is required regularly because threat reaction skills are perishable. Unfortunately, threat training opportunities are minimal. Research Associates of Syracuse (RAS) proposes a multi-phased application of the Air Force Research Lab’s Next Generation Threat System (NGTS) to increase US and Allied combat aircraft threat training capabilities. The resulting Networked Electronic Warfare Training System (NEWTS) can be delivered to combat units with minimal or no access to electronic combat ranges and fill a tremendous void in existing training. NEWTS can also be integrated with any number of actual threat emitters at existing electronic combat ranges to create a robust realistic Integrated Air Defense System. Since NEWTS operates on existing data link channels, it can be deployed at any location where aircraft maneuvering is authorized. NEWTS will receive, as well as transmit, data link information from participating combat aircraft to assess threat reactions.