BACKGROUND

The Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT) is an interactive training system designed for use in a classroom setting. It was developed by FATS Inc., of Suwanee, Ga. Shooters fire laser-fitted infantry weapon simulators to engage three-dimensional graphic target sets projected on a large screen. Using Bluetooth wireless technology, the Bluefire upgrade eliminates the tether that was attached to the simulation system to provide feedback to trainees and instructors.

SCOPE

As a part of an upgrade to the ISMT system, the Marine Corps ordered approximately 1,200 Bluefire simulators and 4,000 optical devices. The total value of the contract is more than $12 million. The Bluefire systems will be compatible across all of the ISMT platforms.

TIMELINE

The first Bluefire weapons and optic devices were delivered to the Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., in March. The balance began fielding in April, first targeting the Marine bases at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejuene, N.C.

WHO’S IN CHARGE

Phyllis Pearce, program manager at FATS Inc., has been with the company for nearly 20 years. She spent the last five as a program manager working directly on U.S. military programs, including the production and fielding of the Marine Corps Reserves systems and the Marine Security Guard system and weapons.

“We are bringing new technology to these systems because the Marines are getting new equipment that they are expected to use, such as optics. We are putting the optics on our Bluefire weapons, enabling Marines to train with those new devices in environments like range courses, close-combat courses and other simulated scenarios. Marines can remediate their skills as needed, and when they go out into the real world, they’re qualified.

The Marine can bring in any optic, like Image Intensified optics, and we can put a filter on the system to replicate what he or she would see.

All the weapons we’d delivered up to this point were tethered. Recently, using Bluetooth technology, we have taken that cord away. We can simulate scenarios for certain situations that are filmed and loaded onto the system, such as clearing a house or a checkpoint operation at a border.

We have the capability of linking multiple systems to create a training regimen for four to five Marines. Each Marine could have a different weapon; some could have responsibility for indirect fire, some could have machine guns, some could be at close range. Depending on what presents itself in that virtual battle space, each one would have a particular role.

When combatants are in a stressful experience, they will fall back on their training. So what we’re doing here is [eliminating] whatever bad habits they may have, so they will instinctively do the right thing. Feedback from instructors is immediate.

We want to expand our role with the services to other parts of the battle space. We can replicate the motions of ships or Humvees. We can do a dome application to put a soldier in a room with 360-degree environment. Technology is being refreshed every few months. Bluetooth is one of those. We continually look at ways to incorporate new technologies to improve our training systems.”