REALMS – Simulation & Training System

REALMS - Simulation & Training System

REALMS / SIMULATION & TRAINING SYSTEMS

Daronmont supports the Royal Australian Air Force in their efforts to train Air Battle Managers and Surveillance Operators, and allows them to perform ongoing distributed, collaborative training and mission rehearsal in a synthetic environment. ABM/Surveillance training uses real mission software stimulated with computer generated forces, sensors and communications.

The REALMS Training System delivers multiple concurrent classified training environments to participants, instructors and adjudicators at several RAAF bases around Australia. The latest virtualisation and networking technologies underpin an advanced, secure ICT framework, and next generation computer generated forces products are delivering new capabilities and greater fidelity training.

PROJECT SCOPE

For more than 12 years, Daronmont has been developing, integrating and sustaining RAAF ABM/Surveillance training systems. In 2019, the REALMS project initiated a complete re-architecture of the training capability maximising the distributed and collaborative characteristics, and delivering flexibility to respond to ever evolving training and mission rehearsal needs. The task included full system development with new hardware and software integration, a security compliance program and new operations/support framework. Ongoing support includes operation and maintenance of the training systems (including personnel on-site) and continuous development, integration and modernisation to sustain a leading edge training capability into the future.

CAPABILITIES DEMONSTRATED

Some of the tasks performed on the project include:

Analysis of customer requirements to develop system and subsystem requirements and design which included computer network and software architecture;

COTS software to provide key tracking and display functions was sourced by Daronmont from Solipsys (US);

Design of software components that permitted integration of Australian sensors and agencies with the Solipsys (MSCT);

Design of Java plugins that extended functionality of the Solipsys Tactical Display Framework (TDF) HMI to meet the requirements of the Australian operators;

Design of a database schema for a COTS SQL based database that managed persistent system data;

Development of plans and test procedures for system integration, qualification and site acceptance testing with RAAF representatives, and

Preparation of user and maintainer documentation.

The WARDEN contract resulted in the development of an indigenous air surveillance capability which provides the RAAF with a correlated air picture, essential to Australia’s air defence. The development of the WARDEN system resulted in solutions that have also been incorporated by Daronmont into other more recent projects such as Project Air5333 Vigilare and MCRC.

The WARDEN system involved a 3 year support period which was extended for a further two years.

The ROCs used WARDEN for 8 years, with Daronmont providing on-site support and software maintenance and upgrades over the life of the system. The WARDEN system is currently still in use in the MCRC located at 114MCRU in Darwin.