New UK Contract and Support for RED FLAG
Inzpire Limited continues to go from strength to strength, with a new contract from Lockheed Martin and a recent deployment to Nellis AFB in Nevada to support Exercise RED FLAG 18-1.
The company’s Helicopter Services Division, which has previously provided live flying training support to the UK Joint Helicopter Command APACHE and WILDCAT fleets, has been subcontracted by Lockheed Martin UK to provide aircrew instruction and technical support for a new CHINOOK Mk6 training capability at RAF Odiham. The new simulator facility will be the first Support Helicopter synthetic system capable of providing full crew training for pilots and crewmen in individual or multi-aircraft tactical scenarios. Inzpire has partnered with the Managed Services Division of Operational Solutions Limited to fulfil the contract.
Meanwhile, personnel from Inzpire’s Synthetic Training and Integrated Sensors & Systems Divisions have recently deployed to the United States in support of Exercise RED FLAG 18-1. RED FLAG is the world’s most complex air combat exercise, involving XI(F) Squadron from RAF Coningsby, and participants from the US Air Force, Navy, Army and Marine Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Inzpire TYPHOON Mission Data (MD) and Defensive Aids (DASS) technical and developmental subject matter experts based at RAF Coningsby’s TYPHOON Mission Support Centre flew out to Nevada to provide DASS MD support to the RAF TYPHOONs participating in the exercise, whilst assessing the latest version of the software. Deploying for 3 weeks in direct support of XI(F) Sqn TYPHOON Standards and Evaluation (STANEVAL) and 92 Tactics Sqn allowed the MD and Software Development team to directly interact with current front-line pilots in an operational environment. Interaction of this nature ensures that technical expertise is passed on from Inzpire’s experts, and also allows them to stay informed of current tactical procedures and philosophies. This environment facilitates pilot training and simulates the interaction required in current and future operational theatres between the war-fighter and the MD support team.
In addition to the support provided by Inzpire’s ISS team, the Synthetic Training Division from the UK’s Air Battlespace Training Centre (ABTC) sent Attack and J2 experts to observe the exercise. The aim was to keep abreast of current tactics, capabilities and exercise management techniques so that the ABTC can deliver the most up to date and relevant training in the future. This will benefit not only the TYPHOON Force but also the E-3D Force, RIVET JOINT and Royal Navy Type 45 as well as the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance QWI Course that regularly use the ABTC facility.
