Posted on Dec 15, 2014
Corps' new hyper-realistic marksmanship trainer may be delayed
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From: Marine Corps Times
Delivery of the Marine Corps' next generation marksmanship trainers may be delayed after at least one company competing to produce it protested the contract award.
The $32.7 million contract, awarded Nov. 5 to Meggitt Training Systems, Inc., is being contested, according to Marine Corps Systems Command officials. They declined to discuss the new system further pending resolution of the matter. It was not immediately clear on what grounds the award was being disputed.
According to specifications available online however, the system is an improved version what are formally called Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainers. Improvements would make it a portable system that can better interface with more of the service's newer weapons systems.
The ungraded versions will allow for training Marines to handle complex battle scenarios with calls for fire support. It will also challenge Marines who serve in specialized jobs, like those who guard embassies, to pass unique training scenarios that will better prepare them for real-life missions.
"The system shall be a three dimensional simulation based system for indoor use capable of instructing in basic and advanced marksmanship, shoot/no-shoot judgment, combat marksmanship, supporting arms, and weapons employment tactics," the system specifications published on FedBizOpps.gov state.
It will even support forward observers by allowing them to call for mortars, artillery, naval gunfire, close air support, and close-in fire support.
The updated system will be able to support up to eight Marines firing as part of a single scenario with each using up to two weapons. That would, for example, allow Marines training in close quarters battle scenarios to transition from rifles to pistols.
Additionally, several ISMTs can be networked together to form an Infantry Squad Trainer, that will allow up to 15 to 24 Marines to participate in scenarios simultaneously.
Those robust capabilities will not only allow for better training of standard infantry and support Marines, but also those with specialized roles. For example, if Marine security guards are training in one, they can recreate the layout of their embassy compound.
It will also allow for scenarios in a multitude of topographies including mountain, desert, woodland and urban. The service would also like the system to be able to depict glaciers, volcanoes, ocean and coastal areas, and continental plains and rivers.
Potential scenarios the simulator can accommodate will include deliberate and hasty attacks, combat and reconnaissance patrols, meeting engagements, raids, and military operations on urban terrain. It will also simulate night attacks that are illuminated or non-illuminated, position defense in the day and night and engagement of enemy targets that include aircraft, helicopters and armor.
With regards to weapons compatibility, the next-generation ISMT will accommodate a suite of newer Marine weapons including the Infantry Automatic Rifle, the Multi-shot Grenade Launcher, and a Light Anti-tank Weapon. It will also allow the use of a broad spectrum of optics in normal light, low light and darkness.
The hyper-realistic system will mimic the actual ballistics of everything from pistol rounds to buckshot.
"For example, an M16A4 round should penetrate grass, bushes, canvas, and other soft targets, but not damage a tank," the system requirements state.
To complete the immersive experience, the service requires that sounds "be of such fidelity, quality realism and volume that students shall experience the cues, stresses, and distractions of a 'real life' combat situation."
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/tech/2014/12/14/new-hyper-realistic-marine-marksmanship-trainer-could-be-delayed-by-contract-protest/19798605/
Delivery of the Marine Corps' next generation marksmanship trainers may be delayed after at least one company competing to produce it protested the contract award.
The $32.7 million contract, awarded Nov. 5 to Meggitt Training Systems, Inc., is being contested, according to Marine Corps Systems Command officials. They declined to discuss the new system further pending resolution of the matter. It was not immediately clear on what grounds the award was being disputed.
According to specifications available online however, the system is an improved version what are formally called Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainers. Improvements would make it a portable system that can better interface with more of the service's newer weapons systems.
The ungraded versions will allow for training Marines to handle complex battle scenarios with calls for fire support. It will also challenge Marines who serve in specialized jobs, like those who guard embassies, to pass unique training scenarios that will better prepare them for real-life missions.
"The system shall be a three dimensional simulation based system for indoor use capable of instructing in basic and advanced marksmanship, shoot/no-shoot judgment, combat marksmanship, supporting arms, and weapons employment tactics," the system specifications published on FedBizOpps.gov state.
It will even support forward observers by allowing them to call for mortars, artillery, naval gunfire, close air support, and close-in fire support.
The updated system will be able to support up to eight Marines firing as part of a single scenario with each using up to two weapons. That would, for example, allow Marines training in close quarters battle scenarios to transition from rifles to pistols.
Additionally, several ISMTs can be networked together to form an Infantry Squad Trainer, that will allow up to 15 to 24 Marines to participate in scenarios simultaneously.
Those robust capabilities will not only allow for better training of standard infantry and support Marines, but also those with specialized roles. For example, if Marine security guards are training in one, they can recreate the layout of their embassy compound.
It will also allow for scenarios in a multitude of topographies including mountain, desert, woodland and urban. The service would also like the system to be able to depict glaciers, volcanoes, ocean and coastal areas, and continental plains and rivers.
Potential scenarios the simulator can accommodate will include deliberate and hasty attacks, combat and reconnaissance patrols, meeting engagements, raids, and military operations on urban terrain. It will also simulate night attacks that are illuminated or non-illuminated, position defense in the day and night and engagement of enemy targets that include aircraft, helicopters and armor.
With regards to weapons compatibility, the next-generation ISMT will accommodate a suite of newer Marine weapons including the Infantry Automatic Rifle, the Multi-shot Grenade Launcher, and a Light Anti-tank Weapon. It will also allow the use of a broad spectrum of optics in normal light, low light and darkness.
The hyper-realistic system will mimic the actual ballistics of everything from pistol rounds to buckshot.
"For example, an M16A4 round should penetrate grass, bushes, canvas, and other soft targets, but not damage a tank," the system requirements state.
To complete the immersive experience, the service requires that sounds "be of such fidelity, quality realism and volume that students shall experience the cues, stresses, and distractions of a 'real life' combat situation."
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/tech/2014/12/14/new-hyper-realistic-marine-marksmanship-trainer-could-be-delayed-by-contract-protest/19798605/
Posted in these groups: 
Marksmanship
Training
Marksmanship Training
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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Oh no! we may need to keep doing what we've been doing for literally hundreds of years....snapping in, and supplementing that with talk-throughs.
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Capt Richard I P.
We may even need to make sure our Marines spend some free time in simulators in their barracks rooms, but how can we ensure that a 19 year old will spend a significant portion of their free time and pay on the next Call of Duty installment and an Xbox to play it on?
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SGT Dee Stanley
The Army system is implemented incorrectly, it is offered only as a part of the pre deployment enviroment, which is sad because they spend more time explaining its use than using it. In my last deployment we spent more time in sensitivity training than in MOUT or Firearms training, There was no course on COMBLOC weapons but they did find time to teach Arabic when we were going to Afghanistan!
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