Digital Battlespace
BAE Systems launches Falcon trials
Training has begun on the UK’ s Falcon portable broadband-based communications system for the army and air force, manufacturer BAE Systems has announced.
The programme, which began in 2006, facilitates the secure transmission of voice, data and video traffic between military personnel. Training on the system is being delivered by Babcock with support from the MoD, a BAE statement released on 14 March said.
Two dedicated sites have been set up for the training at the Defence College of Communication Information Systems (DCCIS) in Blandford, Dorset, and another at 90 Signals Unit at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire. The training is in preparation for field trials scheduled to start in to ‘second quarter’ of this year, a BAE representative told Shephard.
‘Low volumes of training to support the Falcon System Field Trial started in September 2011. This pattern of delivery has been maintained in the new year with the training now starting to ramp up in earnest in March 2012,’ the representative explained.
The training is on-going and is planned to be conducted over the next two years. It will be delivered using a mixture of task-based and technology-based training activities. Course lengths vary from three to 30 days, the statement continued.
The majority of the training uses Falcon equipment that operators will use in theatre when the platform enters service, and it will be taught in specially configured classrooms and vehicle hangers. To date, 200 course places have been given with a 100% pass rate according to BAE.
Maj Mark Jolly, defence training lead for the programme said in the statement: 'We are now seeing a considerable gear change in the delivery of Falcon training. The training group recognises that BAE Systems is committed to delivering a training solution that meets the military's needs.’
The Falcon will be deployable in containers, on board vehicles, stand-alone or on a palletised system. All variants can also be airlifted, it was concerned.
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