COMBAT SIMULATION IN THE LONGBOW APACHE FORCE DEVELOPMENT TEST AND EXPERIMENTATION (FDTE)

This paper will examine the application of real-time manned simulation in the Longbow Apache Force Development Test and Experimentation (FDTE) program. The purpose of the FDTE was to assess the training programs, including certification, to determine that individuals and units were adequately trained prior to the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE), assess the organization for combat, and provide data on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) developed in simulation and generalized in the field environment. The simulation portion of the FDTE was conducted in the McDonnell Douglas Longbow Apache (LBA) Engineering Development Simulator (EDS) during October 1994. A large part of the FDTE effort was to examine the TTP proposed for use by the Attack Helicopter Company and determine if the EDS provided an effective environment for accomplishing that task. With the increasing costs associated with flying and maintaining aircraft it is of great interest to determine if test and training can be effectively completed in a simulation environment. The FDTE also determined, to a large extent, if the TTP, aircrews, and aircraft were ready for employment in the Longbow IOTE effort. Observations emerging from the FDTE, the contributions to training, the development of Attack Helicopter Battalion TTP, and the benefits in both cost and time realized through the use of manned simulation are discussed.