Saab has launched a new military UAV Trainer designed to prepare soldiers for modern battlefield challenges, including counter-UAS operations. The system, initially offered as a service, has been adopted by the British Armed Forces, with strong interest from other customers worldwide.
The UAV Trainer is an advanced add-on for live training scenarios. The system integrates with Saab’s exercise control software (EXCON) and uses an off-the-shelf UAS platform that can be customized with sensors and simulated weapons to replicate a variety of battlefield threats.
The trainer’s features include a laser target system that enables it to engage participants virtually, dropping “virtual munitions” during exercises, and simulate being shot down by ground forces. This capability allows for the evaluation of soldier skills, tactical decision-making and counter-UAS survivability.
“We see the increased use of military UAVs on the battlefield. The need for a solution that makes soldiers ready to detect, engage and hide from these is crucial,” said Joakim Alhbin, head of Saab’s Training and Simulation business unit. “Saab’s UAV live training capability has already received a huge interest from the existing live training customers.”
The trainer is designed to support live feedback and learning by recording troop activity, including interactions with the UAV. This data is used to provide objective analysis, enhancing the effectiveness of soldiers in countering UAV threats.
The UK Armed Forces became the system’s first official user, employing it in live training scenarios to simulate both aerial threats and assets. Saab also revealed that several customer trials have been conducted and a number of prototype systems delivered to an undisclosed client.
Many in the counter-UAS space have stressed the importance of giving soldiers confidence that they can counter UAS threats when they meet them. Often the approach to this involves attempting to equip soldiers with a counter-drone weapon, however there will never be a “silver bullet” that can counter all threats. An approach centred on training soldiers for counter-UAS purposes offers a useful way to instil this confidence for a wide range of threats.
Post Image Credit: Saab
