Providing upgrades to USAF KC-135 BOWST AAR simulators

Quantum3D Government Systems (Q3DGS), a leading provider of training and simulation services for commercial and government applications, were selected by CAE to provide upgrades to the US Air Force KC-135 Boom Operator Weapons System Trainer (BOWST) aerial refueling simulators at nine installations.

Quantum3D Government Systems will upgrade the simulators from Q3DGS’s INDEPENDENCE IDX 6000 to Q3DGS’s state of the art IDX 8000 image generator.

The current BOWST aerial refueling simulator uses the Quantum3D IDX 6000 image generator with five channels, GeoScapeSE WWDB (Worldwide Database) and advanced weather and ocean plug-ins. The simulator leverages advanced shadows, spotlights, aircraft lighting, and refueling receptacles to provide realistic cues and support the high demands for depth perception required by boom operators.

CAE USA is the prime contractor on the KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme and provides the US Air Force with classroom and simulator instruction as well as upgrades, maintenance and support of all KC-135 aircrew training devices.

The BOWST simulator upgrade will improve the cybersecurity posture of the BOWST IG. It will also upgrade and improve the operating system from the current Windows Server 2008 and Windows XP Embedded operating systems. Q3DGS will also support CAE in the hardening of the utilised operating system with the applicable STIGs that do not affect IG operation.

“We look forward to supporting CAE and the US Air Force with the enhanced upgrades of our IDX 8000 image generator system that will provide the users with an improved realistic training environment and long-term sustainability,” Q3DGS President, Mark Matthews stated.

For more information about BOWST visit Q3DGS at I/ITSEC on booth #1048. Together with its sister company Quantum3D, both are members of Quantum3D Group, a Delaware corporation which is in turn wholly owned by Havelsan, a major global software and systems provider based in Ankara, Turkey.

IDX 8000 also plays a key role in the development of Turkish Aerospace’s entirely new light-duty T-625 OZGUN helicopter prototype for the Turkish Armed Forces.