A Multi-Year Assessment of the Safety of Introducing Computer- Generated Aircraft into Live Air Combat Training

Abstract

In the U.S. Navy’s proposed Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) air combat training system, live F/A-18 aircraft will fly alongside virtual aircraft flown by pilots in simulators and constructive aircraft generated by computers. The Navy is using a human-centered, gradual, iterative, and research-based strategy to transition to LVC training. Part of this strategy entails a multi-year effort to preemptively identify and mitigate potential safety concerns associated with LVC training. Two cycles of event-driven interviews with 31 Navy aircrew and training professionals, followed by extensive review by two naval air combat subject-matter experts and other stakeholders, produced a list of LVC-related safety concerns. Researchers assessed the safety risk level of each concern to prioritize mitigation efforts. The latest cycle of data collection and subject-matter expert review, reported herein, focused on developing mitigations for the safety concerns and identifying characteristics of the current naval air combat training system that protect against LVC-induced perturbations.

LVC Allocator: Aligning training value with scenario design for envisioned LVC training of fast-jet pilots

“…Sherwood et al suggest that this role needs to be defined and given sufficient resources to handle very complex LVC training scenarios. 21 This is a recommendation similar to the one made in this article. However, Sherwood et al focus on the complexity of carrying out LVC training, whereas in this article we focus on aligning training value with LVC scenario design.…”

“…The proposal of an LVC Allocator function made here represents an extension of what was suggested by Sherwood et al, 21 i.e., a role focusing on the complexity and safety during carrying out of LVC training. The purpose of the LVC Allocator function is to align training value with LVC training scenario design and is envisioned here as a function in between the scenario designer, who is responsible for constructing the training scenario, and the Air Boss/Mission Commander.…”

“…In a subsequent study Sherwood et al investigated the risks that may arise from the introduction of LVC training in WVR (within visual range) scenarios where operators run the risk of being confused if they are approaching opponents who are V or C but cannot see them through the HUD (head-up display) in their live aircraft. 21 Hence, in WVR scenarios, there is a potential flight safety risk with LVC training. Another aspect regarding safety that was reported concerned overload for the single person handling all the entities (L, V, and C) on the red side (adversaries), which may mean that safety aspects may not be detected in time during a scenario if the management of LVC exercises including all of its entities and added complexity is not carefully thought through.…”

A live mindset in Live Virtual Constructive simulations: a spin-up for future LVC air combat training

“…Results point among other things at flight safety risks in LVC-T due to confusion and uncertainty of whether entities appearing on the sensor displays (e.g., radar, radar warning receiver) are Live, Virtual, or Constructive aircraft. 9 More recently also other potential hazards (e.g., reduced big picture awareness, inadequate support for exercise management, increased risk-taking) of introducing LVC in training have been reported. 10 Research on the LVC training concept and training effect is, however, largely lacking.…”

“…This article strives to address these needs and presents an approach to, as well as an investigation of, training value in LVC-T scenarios. This study, in contrast to some other studies, 9 focuses on beyond visual range (BVR) training, which might be more suitable for LVC-T with regard to flight safety risks compared with within visual range training.…”