Army Sets Sight on Small Arms Simulator.

• Author: Ezell, Virginia Hart
• Position: Brief Article

January saw the introduction of a new kind of simulator to the Army. The engagement skills trainer 2000 (EST 2000)--designed and developed by Orlando, Fla.-based ECC International Corporation--adds to the company's collection of skill development technology. With its three-dimensional targeting and wide array of training scenarios, the EST 2000 simulator provides a level of sophistication to small arms tactical training that will help prepare the U.S. infantry soldier for missions and threats of the 21st century.

ECC has been building simulators, beginning with maintenance trainers for the U.S. Air Force, for more than 30 years. It makes maintenance simulators for the F-16 fighter and the C-17 transport aircraft. ECC also makes several simulators for the Army including maintenance and operator trainers for armor crews. Its CCTT is part of the combined arms tactical trainer designed to provide force-on-force training for armor crews up to the battalion level. Now, ifs the infantry's turn to train units in a simulated world.

The Army already uses several types of small arms trainers for marksmanship skills training. Some of them afford a type of collective training.

The new engagement trainer from ECC combines marksmanship skills, judgement training and collective combat training. An ECC spokesman said its new small arms simulator is not intended to replace live-fire training but was designed to enhance training by offering realistic squad-level collective training in a simulated environment. Improved technologies allow the system to detect failures. It knows where the "bullet" is going, records weapon pitch and cant, trigger pull and keeps a running record of each shooter's performance during collective training.

As a marksmanship trainer, the EST 2000 provides the shooter with a full course of fire with simulated, but reduced recoil. Each shooter receives a score card that shows a history of his aim for each shot during the course of fire. The system tracks soldiers' actions and reactions from a three-dimensional, xyz plane for greater accuracy and realism. It records individual performance for accurate after-action reviews and improved individualized feedback. ECC also designed the system for remote diagnostics.

The EST 2000 runs on a standard personal computer making training relatively simple. Part of ECC's Army contract includes a 24-7 toll-free technical-support telephone line to assist Army trainers in resolving any problems with the...