This year, the second MATC Training Conference took place in the Croatian Military Training Facility „Mali Lošinj Barracks“ in the term 12 -14 July 2022. Representatives of all four MATC member countries met here to jointly discuss topics from the training branch.
The main theme of the conference was a more in-depth presentation of the individual structures of the air forces of the member countries. During the particular performances, a lot of spontaneous discussions arose, which brought new possibilities for the development of cooperation within the MATC. One such possibility is, for example, the training of flight instructors, when the Croatian side presented its own training program, which attracted the attention of all parties involved. The Hungarian side also has a lot of requested international training options within the base in Szolnok, which is why a site survey of this destination for September was tentatively agreed upon.
Excellent facilities and support from the host nation of Croatia enabled three days of fruitful discussion.
The Joint Training, Legal and Financial MATC Conference was held from 26th to 27th April 2022 at the MATC Directorate residence in Vyškov, Czech Republic.
The main goal of the MATC Training Conference was to find joint training activities and to start setting up a way of working together for the next period. The main MATC Legal and Financial Conference topics were MATC MoU Amendment No. 1 introduction and the related new contractual framework of LOM PRAHA s.e. products/services provided via MATC, with all legal consequences arising from it. The Conference outputs were introduced during the Training Conference in order to support the upcoming Counter Air Operations (CAO) Training, in which Trainees from all MATC countries will participate.
The Joint MATC conference has definitely fulfilled its purpose and its conclusions have contributed significantly not only to the successful implementation of the July CAO training but also to the consolidation of good relations within MATC.
MATC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Amendment No. 1 has been signed on the level of Military Representatives to the NATO Military Committee during NATO Defence Ministers Meeting, held in Brussels 20 – 21 October 2021.
This Amendment is an outcome of two years lasting effort of MATC Working Group, composed of MATC legal and financial experts, in close cooperation with CZE MoD. One of the main ideas behind the Amendment No. 1 was to add an additional function to the MATC to be able to act not only as the intermediary but also as the provider of services/products in case of contributions that are not in Participants‘ direct ownership and control.
Certified copies of the MATC MoU Amendment No. 1 will be distributed to the MATC Participants in the near future, as well as the HQ SACT will be informed
The 9th MATC Steering Committee Meeting was held on 20th October 2021 at the Croatian military air-base Zemunik – Zadar, Croatia. The main SC meeting subjects were the new SC Chairman election, the Plan of Work (POW), MATC Multinational Budget (MMB) and MATC FIN Plan 2023 – 2025 approval.
As a new SC Chairman was voted BG Robert Tóth, SVK AF Commander, by SC members. The next regular SC meeting is agreed to be held in Slovakia in autumn 2022.
The status of the MATC Directorate was reported, followed by a summary of MATC’s training activities with a view to next year and possible future new training opportunities. The success of MATC MBAR project conducted in cooperation with participating nations MAAs and its continuation was emphasized.
Steering committee members were also informed about the status of the amendment to the MATC MoU, following work on a functional and convenient legal framework, such as the MATC Credit Mechanism and the VAT Refund System, aiming to allow simplified access to certain products provided through MATC.
The MATC representatives (Director and Airworthiness Officer) attended the Global Defence Helicopter in Warsaw, which was held in November 2021. The MATC main presented topics were differences between live and simulated training, and the second topic was aimed to clarify benefits of signed MBAR for MATC participants.
The first MATC Aviation and Airworthiness meeting after ceremonial signature of MBAR (Mutual Bilateral Airworthiness Recognition) in 2019 took place from 5th to 6th of October 2021 in Liptovský Mikuláš, the Slovak Republic. The meeting was organized by the MATC Directorate in coordination with the Slovak Military Aviation Authority (MAA).
In two days, subject-matter experts were discussing the following topics: – assessment of the MBAR current state, – the state of implementation of EMAR’s into the national environment, military regulations or decrees, – the process of recognition of national authorities by the NATO side (knowledge, experience, positives and negatives), – the current status of MATC – ongoing courses and outlook for the upcoming years.
Besides that, the meeting attendees had an opportunity to visit the simulation centre in Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš.
The 1st 2020 MATC Training Conference was held from 3rd to 5th March 2020 in Olomouc, Czech Republic. During this Conference, the Participants had an opportunity to visit two of CZE tactical simulation centres belonging to MATC Training Facility Pool: HTP (Helicopter Training Point) Ostrava CZ, and TSC (Tactical Simulation Center) Pardubice.
The main topic of the conference was an application of Distributed Training (DT) (Simulation delivery), where MATC currently investigates, supported by GAF SCC (Simulation Control Center) and WPC/DTC (Warrior Preparation Center/Distributed Training Center), a possible way for MATC Tactical Simulation Facilities´ involvement into the Distributed Training network.
What DT means: “Distributed training is an instructional model that allows instructor, trainees, and content to be located in different, noncentralized locations so that instruction and training can occur independent of place” (Wikipedia).
Firstly, MATC has to coordinate an analysis concerning means and expenses needed for a DT connectivity establishment. Secondary, if such expenses are in balance with a training value. To be honest, based on the interview below, it is possible to express that DT has a justification to be incorporated in the simulation training system of MATC both rotary and fixed wing air crews in the future.
The SMEs experienced in DT were invited for the MATC Training Conference in order to establish close cooperation with MATC and its tactical simulation facilities´ managers, additionally also to contribute with their knowledge to MATC DT analysis start up. To what extent the MATC DT would be developed depends on MATC nations´ training needs regarding a cooperation with NATO and other partners.
The Interview with 1st2020 MATC Training Conference participants
We interviewed subject-matter experts, who participated on 1st 2020 MATC Training Conference, for their personal opinion regarding Distributed Training (DT):
LtCol Oliver Schmidt,
Head of GAF Simulation Control Center,
Cologne, Germany
Sir, which personal experience with DT you have and where you see DT´s main benefit?
LtCol Oliver Schmidt: Distributed Training is the core task of my Center. We create a virtual training area where soldiers in their different weapon system simulators can exercise jointly from their respective unit’s home location. Thus, they prepare for complex missions, gain a deeper understanding of the character and limitations of other participants´ systems and learn to fight successfully. The approach is to move information, not people.
What is usually the main obstacle for a NATO member country which would perform a first DT project?
LtCol Oliver Schmidt: So far, we have encountered a wide variety of obstacles – incompatibility of data transmission formats, lacking access to a network in the respective security domain, uncertified bandwidth, no match of crypto devices and keys, missing national and network accreditation, failed device synchronization, non-availability of object models, faulty projection of weapons impact into federated systems, non-establishment of fair fight conditions and many others. It is hard to say which one is the main hurdle. However, one thing is clear: Eventually we’ll pass over it.
LtCol Christian Reichel,
Bundeswehr HSG 64 LTGrp Sim Ausb,
Bückeburg, Germany
MATC Reporter: Sir, do you have any positive experience with DT regarding your aviation simulation centers?
LtCol Christian Reichel: Yes, our experience with DT has been a good one. DT is easier to set up/organize and with less overhead when compared to real life exercises, driving up the benefit to cost ratio. There are, however, aspects to keep in mind prior to training, such as ensuring a stable network connection and database correlation. These are required to achieve a good training session.
MATC Reporter: From your point of view, if it is possible in the future, would you see any benefit in mutual GAF/Bundeswehr – MATC participants helicopter crews on-line training?
LtCol Christian Reichel: Personally, I believe the benefit for a joint DT session between GAF/Bundeswehr and MATC to be quite significant. This activity allows us to share and exchange experiences within the European military helicopter community, which is already being done since several years through real life exercises (Blade – Exercise) in context of the Helicopter Training Program of the European Defence Agency.
Mr. Rolf T. Breier,
USAFE Warrior Preparation Center (WPC),
Distributed Training Center/OLI-Operations Lead Integrator- Exercise Director,
Einseidlerhof, Germany
MATC Reporter: Sir, from your point of view, could you specify some of the most significant advantages of a DT?
Mr. Rolf T. Breier: Distributed training (DT) allows war fighters to train with large numbers of entities over an area size and distance that could not be accomplished over an actual country or coalition’s borders. It allows the white force (or exercise director) to control friendly unit tasking while managing the level of the enemy threat presentation over an actual, depicted, regional theatre database.
From a leadership perspective DT allows government observers and military leaders a high situational awareness view of their air/sea/land assets on the modern battlefield. Obviously, there are huge cost savings in synthetic blended training (virtual and constructive) over using and wearing out actual equipment. DT’s inherent safety benefits totally protect live personnel and preserve actual assets for future conflict or training.
MATC Reporter: Which DT (exercises) does your WPC support?
Mr. Rolf T. Breier: The WPC squadrons support over 100 exercises per year from EUCOM, NATO, USAFE/AFRICOM, coalition, and Partners for Peace at all Tier1-4 levels. At the Tier 3 and 4 levels, The DTC runs six to twelve 4-day Spartan Series exercises per year that concentrate on multinational/multiservice unit specific training. These various type exercises emphasize achieving tactical training objectives while practising mission planning, coordination, and execution.
Note: The WPC will soon become the USAFE/AFRICOM Warfare Center as it grows to meet future training requirements!
MATC Reporter: Based on your personal experience, how your WPC might support NATO members which firstly joining the NATO DT system?
Mr. Rolf T. Breier: The WPC DTC facilitates a mature Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) that runs through 3 planning conferences, 1-2 weeks of testing followed by a week-long exercise and operational/technical debrief. This process is continually supported throughout by experienced subject-matter experts specializing in operations, technical, network, and communications support.
This is an exciting time for Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) training and 4th/5th Generation aircraft integration. We at the “new” Warfare Center love exercises and look forward to a more robust “distributed” future that might include space, cyber, and beyond?!
Col Mario Pleša,
Croatian AF HQ Representative,
Zagreb, Croatia
MATC Reporter: Sir, from your point of view, how you can determine the main benefit of a possible DT between MATC and NATO partners´ simulation facilities?
Col Mario Pleša: From my point of view, first of all for smaller countries developing specialized training facilities only for they own need is too expensive and does not serve the purpose of making trading chipper and affordable. Secondly, distributing training have mutual benefits, for nation simulation facility becomes profitable or less expensive therefore more can be invested in further development, and for user nations becomes affordable and more nation funds can be addressed for development of other nation training needs which as well can be offered for DT. Thirdly, exchange of this nature in between partners is strengthening alliance and our interoperability, for we all use and practice same doctrine, tactics and procedures and all partners are aware of each other abilities and level of training.
MATC Reporter: MATC manages the Counter Air OPS (CAO) Training in Tactical Simulation Center (TSC) Pardubice, which is supported by TLP SMEs. Based on the survey, which was held on 4th March 2020, of this MATC simulation facility, where you can see a potential of in the future possible CAO DT and a possible on-line connectivity with NATO partners?
Col Mario Pleša: Training as in TSC Pardubice, not only for pilots but for interceptor controllers as well, in controlled environment, where any situation can be created (matter of scenario/mission creator imagination or nation training request), rehearsed and practiced without all the aircraft running expenses, airspace reservations, long term planning etc. and involved risk of mishaps is invaluable. Lunching countless and different types of missiles and evaluation during mission is just not possible in a real life. TSC Pardubice makes it possible and affordable. On-line connectivity with NATO partners brings it up to a different level and creates an environment for large simulator based exercises, as US WPC (Warrior Preparation Centre) has already developed in so-called “Spartan series” exercises. As they say, it is “way ahead”.
Mr. Miloš Pecha (Lt Col ret.),
HTP Ostrava CZ, Manager of Tactical Training,
Ostrava-Mošnov, Czech Republic
MATC Reporter: Sir, do you admit that your Helicopter Tactical Simulation Center would consider any possibility for DT in the future in order to train on-line MATC rotary wing crews with other NATO partners?
Mr. Miloš Pecha: Our training centre is fully supporting any effort in multi-platform distributed simulation training. We have been discussing this topic with our current and potential customers since the beginning of the tactical training delivery in 2016. MATC provides the optimal consultation framework to continue the multinational discussions on connectivity issues and potential distributed synthetic training delivery.
MATC Reporter: What is your opinion regarding to a possible comparison and verification of rotary wing crews´ training standards via a DT?
Mr. Miloš Pecha: Real time functional distributed simulated training undoubtedly provides higher level of interoperability and very effective experience exchange. It also brings higher demands on synchronization of mission planning conduct as well as technical functionality. Any distributed training effort needs to be well coordinated with the clearly defined criteria to deal with the existing various levels of tactical preparedness among the NATO/PfP nations. This could be done by establishing an DT authority, composed by the coalition of NATO/PfP nations participating in DT.
MATC Reporter: Which sort of tactical simulation Training you would like to execute with NATO partners, if your facility is capable for that?
Mr. Miloš Pecha: Having purpose-built helicopter tactical simulator in place and more important – having the Qualified Helicopter Tactical Instructor cadre in HTP Ostrava, the tactical simulation training would continue by the way we currently provided, with adding the new dimension – real time interaction with other units around the world. That way of training would speed up the tactical procedures’ standardization process enormously. With having DT system available, we would focus on training complex COMAO scenarios.
Thank you for the interview!
(The MATC web page article is based on personal view and experience)
The final Mutual Bilateral Airworthiness Recognition (MBAR) conference, attended by the National Military Authorities (NMA) directors representing the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic, took place in Prague on December 12, 2019. The participants signed the Recognition Certificates (RC) of training procedures, rules of the aircrews and maintenance personnel in the scope of MATC elements to the 31st of December 2023. In addition, this act has simultaneously confirmed successful mutual cooperation among the Czech, Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovakian MAAs not only for the MATC benefit but also, in the wider perspective, for an exchange of lessons-learned and further harmonization of procedures applied in the Air Forces of individual participating countries. Participants agreed to continue their cooperation in 2020 in the form of RC’s review. The working groups are going to assess whether RC’s still support the partners’ needs for recognition, and also to make sure that they provide an appropriate level within the signed certificates.
The final on-site visit of the State Aviation Department was done by the Military Airworthiness Authorities (MAA) of CZE, HRV and HUN in the Ministry of Defence of Slovak republic in the term of 22-24 October 2019.
The MAA SVK legal basis and procedures concerning to Product Oversight were found out as acceptable for MAAs of CZE, HRV and HUN. Representatives of MAA´s agreed, that no objection exists to sign the Recognition Certificate for MAA SVK.
Final Assessment Report and individual Recognition Certificates are expected to be signed during MAA director’s meeting planned on December 2019 in Prague. This will complete the MBAR process in favour of MATC.
The 3rd MATC Training Conference was held in Vyškov Military Academy (MATC Directorate, CZE) from 30th September to 3rd October 2019.
The main aim of the Conference was to evaluate courses and training organized by MATC and to familiarize the MATC community with the lessons learned gained from these activities. Other topics covered MATC planned training and new training project proposals.
The TRG Leader informed also about the Site Survey of German Air Force Simulation Control Centre (Cologne, GER). The goal of this visit was to receive basic information about “Distributed Training” possibilities for the future MATC training. The main task of the DEU Air Force Simulation Control Centre is to interconnect the tactical weapons systems simulators of German Air Force via a network to execute Distributed Mission Operations, and the MATC is looking for options how to link this unique centre with already existing simulators within MATC countries.
The last, but not least objective of the 3rd MATC Training Conference was to cooperate and share information with parallel ongoing MATC Legal and Financial conferences, and to prepare background materials for the MATC Steering Committee Meeting, which was held at the same place on 2nd of October.
