How simulators have been an ally in training for naval warfare
By First Lieutenant (RM2-T) Daniela Meireles – Brasília, DF
It is when they are sailing at depths of more than 300 meters below the surface of the sea that the level of preparation of the submariners of the Brazilian Navy (MB) becomes even more evident. More than compromising a project that has been years in the making, valued at hundreds of millions of reais, a small slip-up can put the lives of the crew at risk and, in a combat scenario, cost the national defense dearly.
To avoid extreme situations like this, the military are subjected to exercises that are increasingly capable of simulating real experiences, which keep them prepared to face missions at sea. Simulators with a digital interface, audiovisual and even sensory resources are already part of everyday life at MB Training Centers. Some of them were developed by the Naval Force itself, through the Naval Systems Analysis Center.
The soldiers assigned to crew the new “Riachuelo” class submarines, for example, are subjected to 168 hours in the modules of the Almirante Áttila Monteiro Aché Training and Instruction Center (CIAMA), during their qualification training.
Of the nine simulators available at CIAMA, six are computerized, including an augmented reality trainer acquired with the Navy’s Submarine Program (PROSUB) in 2018, and two immersion cabins capable of reproducing all the movements of a submarine, one in Itaguaí (RJ) and the other in Niterói (RJ).
“In the air, the men of the sea”
Just as in submarine activity, equipment that imitates reality is used in other fields of activity, for military training at sea, on land and in the air. Simulators are also part of the training routine for naval aviators, who are also responsible for carrying out risky and highly complex maneuvers that require a lot of practice and experience.
Landing on a moving vessel, flying at night, transporting cargo and personnel inside and outside the aircraft and in-flight refueling are just a few examples. To develop and reinforce aeronautical skills, the Aeronaval Training and Instruction Center (CIAAN), in São Pedro da Aldeia (RJ), has some emulators.
Among those available, the SH-16 “Seahawk” Tactical Operational Flight Trainer, or TOFT SH-16, and the AF-1B “Skyhawk” Advanced Aviation Training Device, or AATD AF-1B, are the most modern.
They contribute mainly to the qualification of the military personnel of the 1st Anti-submarine Helicopter Fleet and the 1st Interceptor and Attack Aircraft Fleet, but are also available for training the other Single Forces.
Developed by the Brazilian company Embraer, the TOFT SH-16 is capable of faithfully reproducing the cockpit and sensor operators’ cabin of a rotary-wing aircraft, including the sonar and radar operating stations, equipment used to detect enemy submarines. Its use has made it possible to reduce flight hours in real aircraft by 43%, saving resources and increasing safety.
The AATD AF-1B allows military personnel to familiarize themselves with fixed-wing aircraft systems, as well as pre-flight, take-off, flight and landing procedures, emergency situations and the use of weapons.
No margin for error
“Many tasks carried out on board are complex to understand and difficult to absorb until you reach the optimal level of proficiency required for naval military activity,” explains Captain Claudio Coreixas de Moraes, who holds a master’s degree in Modeling and Simulation in Virtual Environments.
The officer points out that, for some situations, there is no second chance. “There is no room for procedural errors when navigating in a swept channel, when classifying a target as hostile or friendly, or even when identifying the class of a fire on board, so that the appropriate extinguishing method can be used,” he warns.
The Commander was one of the forerunners of this technology in the MB, having created the first model of maneuvering and navigation training simulator developed by the Navy. The idea came about when he commanded the “Guarda-Marinha Jansen” Notice of Instruction¹ (AvIn), when he realized the gap between what the Naval School aspirants learned in theory and what they were capable of doing on board.
It was then that he worked with his team to create the command bridge simulator (a ship’s cockpit), applying the knowledge acquired during his master’s degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, USA.
Practice makes perfect
“What makes it difficult to map 100% theoretical knowledge onto practice is the complexity of the tasks carried out on board, which require a very specific understanding of the equipment, the region of operation, the environmental situation and the team’s human factors, among others,” explains Commander Coreixas.
Details such as those exemplified by the officer may, according to him, seem irrelevant, but when added to an operating environment permeated by the stress of combat, they take on greater proportions and make a significant difference. “It’s an experience you can’t get in the classroom,” he says.
Although the advantages of practical instruction are undeniable, the Navy’s operational resources are limited. By qualifying students to perform simple activities, simulators help to optimize time and resources.
“It’s common to find aspirants who will only have one opportunity on board the Notice of Instruction¹ to train for a particular task. Ideally, they should arrive on board with a lot of consolidated basic knowledge so that the experience of an expensive resource like the AvIn can be put to better use,” says the Navy expert.
Ahead of its time
Since the first digital models of simulators in 3D virtual environments were launched in the 2010s, MB has not stopped investing in the segment. The Modeling and Simulation Division of the Naval Systems Analysis Center (CASNAV) was created at that time precisely to develop this type of system.
Today, the country already has more than 40 ship simulators in operation, half of which were developed by the Navy for its teaching and training organizations. One of CASNAV’s most recent projects is the Parachute Navigation Simulator with Open Canopy, which reproduces wind, air pressure and weight displacement in free-fall situations, for the education and training of soldiers from the Marine Special Operations Battalion.
The amphibious combatants spend at least 30 minutes a day on the equipment during the Special Freefall Course and the Basic Military Parachutist Course. The resource has not only made it possible to reduce the cost of flying hours, but also to complete the courses in less time and with the same results.
Learning in play
In addition to an interface capable of perfectly imitating reality, the new simulators have adopted elements common to games (electronic games), such as rules, strategies and rewards, to promote learning retention.
According to Francisco Tupy, PhD in Gamefication Technologies, these principles have been applied by large companies in Brazil for professional training aimed at specific areas, which require quick and efficient responses to different circumstances.
The specialist, whose master’s project at the University of São Paulo also contributed to the creation of the Naval School’s gangway simulator, believes that this logic can be adapted to training with digital emulators.
“The simulator is perhaps as stressful as real life, if it’s done well. The difference between learning on a simulator or not could be the difference between life and death. So the reward is going to be my learning and how I’m going to deal with that situation in real life,” he says.
Games also contribute to cognitive development through interactivity, argues the president of the Brazilian Association of Digital Game Developers, Rodrigo Terra.
“Games and virtual reality have been great allies in providing better immersive environments, with better tools and hardware, generating a better experience. Increasingly, companies have been creative in using games for training and stimulation, as a way of connecting with younger employees,” he says.
International highlight
From the simplest to the most elaborate models, the products delivered by CASNAV position Brazil among the most advanced in this area. “The systems used by the Brazilian Navy are on a par with the best available internationally,” says Captain Coreixas.
According to the Commander, there is currently no technological difficulty in developing the simulation systems needed for the courses offered at MB. “We leave no stone unturned in any respect compared to other navies of equal size,” he says.
Unlike other navies, the MB stands out for its use of simulators right from the training of its personnel, at the Naval College, the Naval School and all the Seaman Apprentice Schools.
“The Naval Academy’s gangway simulator is one of the most modern in operation worldwide and allows up to seven ships to operate in multiplayer mode, so that the teams of Aspirants can train from the most basic navigation scenarios to tactical maneuvers in complex formations,” he says.
¹A “Notice of Instruction” (Aviso de Instrução [AvIn]) is a classification given to the small ships of the Brazilian Navy that are used to train aspiring officers. These vessels are subordinate to the Naval School, which is a higher education institution of the Brazilian Navy. The ships are used for practical instruction in navigation, maneuvering and naval operations. In the US Navy, the equivalent of the Brazilian Navy’s “Notice of Instruction” would be a “Training Ship” or “Naval Training Vessel”. These ships are used for practical training of naval cadets and other apprentices. However, the specific name of the ship can vary depending on the class of ship and the specific purpose of the training
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***