Rheinmetall: Modern simulators for the Tiger

Together with its partner Thales, Rheinmetall successfully completed the modernization of the flight simulators for the Tiger combat helicopter a few weeks ago. The contract was awarded in December 2014 by the joint European armaments cooperation organization OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d’ARmement) to ARGE TATM (Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH and Thales AVS France SAS). With the completion of the project, the French armed forces and the Bundeswehr can now train their crews in a modern virtual environment, significantly contributing to full operational readiness and increasing flight safety.

The contract for Rheinmetall Electronics and other partners involved the modernization of the existing simulators at the locations in Le Luc, Fritzlar, and Pau, to bring them up to the current configuration standards of the original aircraft: Tiger Hélicoptère d’Appui et Destruction (HAD) Block 2 (France) and Support Helicopter Tiger Step 2 Krypto (Germany). Additionally, two new simulators were set up in Phalsbourg (France) in a record time of just ten months to fill a gap in training at the French 1st Helicopter Regiment. After the modernization, a total of 20 flight simulators are now operational at all locations: eight Full Mission Simulators (FMS) and twelve Cockpit Procedure Trainers (CPT).

Key aspects of this project included the modernization of the software for the Basic Management System, the updated ETMC navigation system, and the Mission Equipment Systems, as well as new cockpit hardware. Furthermore, the integration of the German Mission Support System (EUA) into the simulator for mission preparation and tactical training, and the modernization of the existing simulator technology with a new visual system, new visual databases, new projectors for the display systems, and the replacement of obsolete computing technology.

The conclusion of the modernization process was marked by a binational networked exercise at the École Franco-Allemande (EFA, German-French helicopter training facility) in Le Luc. This exercise involved displaying six helicopters in twelve networked simulators.

The Tiger simulators are among the most capable Full Mission Simulators for combat helicopter crews worldwide. The Tiger combat helicopter is considered a highly complex weapon system, the representation of which in a simulator places the highest demands on hardware and software. The focus at the school in Le Luc is on flight and weapon training, while the emphasis in the Fritzlar, Pau, and Phalsbourg regiments is primarily on tactical training.

The cooperation between Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH and Thales AVS France SAS continues with the ongoing support services for the 20 modernized Tiger simulators.

Bertrand Cornet, the responsible OCCAR project leader, on behalf of the German and French partners, said: "The modernized system provided by Thales and Rheinmetall offers an extremely realistic representation. It combines a real Tiger cockpit with accurately simulated flight characteristics and a tactical environment oriented towards real operational conditions. Looking ahead, the completely renewed system architecture paves the way for future aircraft developments."

Rheinmetall on the Internet: www.rheinmetall.com

Thales on the Internet: www.thalesgroup.com

Thales Defence on the Internet: www.thalesdsi.com