First Virtual Flag exercise of 2006 ends

Exercise tests aircrews in virtual reality by linking simulators
nationwide

By 1st Lt Nathan D. Broshear
505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs

11/14/2005-KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - The checkerboard flag
representing the nationwide virtual reality exercise led by the
Distributed Mission Operations Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M. was lowered
here Nov. 4, marking the end of the first Virtual Flag exercise of the
Fiscal 2006.

The Virtual Flag focus is to create an extremely realistic and
cost-efficient simulated battlespace using networked simulators across
the United States and at DMOC.

"Think of Virtual Flag as a huge simulation in which our aircrews, space
warriors and ground operators in the Air Operations Center, Control
Reporting Center and Patriot missile batteries 'fight' the enemy
completely in a virtual reality environment," explained Lt. Col. Gordon
Phillips, 705th Exercise Control Squadron commander.

Demand for Virtual Flag's services is on the rise.  The list of
participants in the exercises, held quarterly and sponsored by Air
Combat Command, has continued to grow since its inception in 2000,
explained Colonel Phillips.

"We can replicate numerous world-wide theater environments and populate
that environment with most types of threat that our aircrews may
encounter - that's a valuable capability for a global force," he said.
"You can't do the training we do any other way."

Because the exercise takes place in cyberspace, many of the aircrews can
participate from their home station.  "Approximately 75 percent of our
aircrews participate from home.  We're expanding our training audience
with every exercise while saving each unit and the Air Force a lot of
money," said Colonel Phillips.

"We're working to make virtual exercises as simple as using the
simulators at your home base and getting into the fight," he added.  "No
more long TDYs away from home, airline and billeting costs, and best of
all; you'll be home for dinner every night."

To Airmen like Maj. Mike Ray, a weapons system instructor at Detachment
4-53rd Fighter Wing who works with the 337th Test and Evaluation
Squadron at Dyess AFB, TX, Virtual Flag is much more than a life-sized
simulation.

"The possibilities are endless," he said.  "Our aircrews get to learn
how their aircraft is integrated into a large-force package...it's a
communications and task-intensive environment that they won't get
anywhere else - except combat."

One of the key differences between training in virtual reality versus
live aircraft (in exercises such as Red Flag) is that exercise
controllers can modify the intensity of the training, or even "freeze"
the action if required.

"During flying operations there's no time to pause and explain a
procedure or tactic," explained Major Ray.  "But during Virtual Flag we
can reposition the aircraft in time and space to hit every one of our
training objectives."

For aircrews used to training with live ammunition and aircraft, Virtual
Flag's scale can be daunting.  "During a Red Flag exercise (a live-fire
exercise in Nevada) an AWACS might control 30 aircraft taking part in a
battle," said Colonel Phillips.  "But because we can scale the
simulation to simulate a major theater war, a crew may have to contend
with 300 aircraft flying over to their targets at one time."

Virtual Flag 06-1 marked several firsts for the exercise.  Simulated
Navy E/A-18G aircraft participated in virtual missions from their
development facility in St. Louis, Missouri.  Defense contractor Boeing
networked into the exercise to validate the weapons system and test its
integration into an air campaign. Guardsmen from the 150th Fighter Wing
"Tacos" flew enemy MiG-29 missions as the scenario employed for the
first time "red," or enemy, pilots to dynamically interact with
participants while electronic attacks on U.S. command and control
systems wrecked havoc on communications.

DMOC also unveiled its "Multi-Level Security solution."  The computer
protocol is an important advancement for Virtual Flag as planners work
to add future weapons systems and new scenarios to challenge
participants.  The MLS system was developed, tested and integrated
in-house by DMOC to allow different classified systems to participate in
the exercise and interact fully with other players while preserving
varying security levels.

"The MLS system is a big advancement for the Air Force in that it will
allow us to fully integrate coalition and NATO participants, new
technologies, capabilities and weapons systems such as the F/A-22 Raptor
and the Joint Strike Fighter into Virtual Flag and other simulations,"
explained Colonel Phillips.

For members of the 705th EXS, Colonel Phillips marked the end of Virtual
Flag 06 with a well-deserved day off - but they won't be resting for
long.

He concluded his post-exercise brief by telling his team, "On Monday, we
begin planning the next exercise...and remember, each time we add
something new...more challenges, more variables.  Because you've made
Virtual Flag what it is today - you're always in demand."