Weapon targeting training system and method therefor

1 . An aircraft based weapon targeting training system for training a forward controller to aim weaponry that is mounted on an aircraft, the weapon targeting training system including:

a housing configured for attachment to an aircraft;

a power source housed within the housing, the power source being configured for powering the weapon targeting training system;

at least one or more transceivers housed within the housing, the at least one or more transceivers being configured for wireless communication with a surface terminal and a cockpit terminal and a helmet mounted display;

at least one or more sensors housed within the housing, the sensors being configured for detecting one or more selected from:

a location of the aircraft;

an orientation of the aircraft;

a velocity of the aircraft;

an acceleration of the aircraft;

an image from a target on the ground;

an air speed of the aircraft;

an altitude of the aircraft;

a controller housed within the housing, the controller being configured for:

storing digital terrain data;

receiving a target signal from a surface terminal, the target signal being indicative of a ground target being targeted by the forward controller;

transmitting the target signal wirelessly to the cockpit terminal in the cockpit of the aircraft; and

receiving from the at least one or more sensors

a positioning signal indicative of the location of the aircraft; and, optionally, one or more selected from;

an altitude signal indicative of the altitude of the aircraft;

an airspeed signal indicative of the airspeed of the aircraft;

an orientation signal indicative of the orientation of the aircraft;

a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the aircraft;

an acceleration signal indicative of the acceleration of the aircraft;

calculating the velocity of the aircraft from the positioning signal; and calculating a weapon trajectory for a dummy weapon based on one or more selected from:

the positioning signal;

the airspeed signal;

the aircraft velocity; and

the altitude of the signal;

calculating one or more selected from a continuously calculated impact point (CCIP) and a continuously calculated release point (CCRP) from the weapon trajectory and digital terrain data;

determining a CCIP display signal from the CCIP or a CCRP display signal from the CCRP and transmitting the respective one of the CCIP display signal or CCRP display signal wirelessly to the cockpit terminal ( 5000 ) or a helmet mounted display;

receiving a pickle signal from a user actuating a pickle button in response to the respective one of the CCIP display signal or CCRP display signal received at the respective one of the cockpit terminal or helmet mounted display; and

actuating the release of a dummy weapon on receipt of the pickle signal.

2 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured for removable attachment to an aircraft.

3 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the training system includes:

a first wireless transceiver configured for communicating with a surface terminal; and

a second wireless transceiver configured for communicating with a cockpit terminal.

4 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor for detecting an image from a target on the ground is controllable by the controller to focus on a sensed target on the ground.

5 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the digital terrain data is three-dimensional terrain data.

6 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for:

receiving a control signal from the cockpit terminal; and

controlling movement of the sensor to focus on a ground target identified by the target signal.

7 . The training system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured for:

receiving a sensor signal from the sensor focused on the ground target; and

transmitting the sensor signal to the surface terminal.

8 . The training system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured for:

transmitting the sensor signal to the cockpit terminal.

9 . The training system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured for:

receiving a confirmation signal from the surface terminal.

10 . The training system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured for:

transmitting the confirmation signal to the cockpit terminal.

11 . The training system as claimed claim 1 , wherein the target signal includes an indication of a target location and the controller is configured for:

determining a target signal from the target location; and

wirelessly transmitting the target signal to the cockpit terminal in the aircraft.

12 . The training system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the weapon targeting training system includes a rack to which a dummy weapon is releasably attachable.

13 . The training system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the rack is mounted to the housing.

14 . A method of training a forward controller to aim weaponry mounted on an aircraft at a target, the method including the steps of:

providing a training system as claimed in claim 1 ;

receiving a target signal from a surface terminal;

determining a target location on a digital terrain data based on the target signal;

receiving from at least one or more sensors one or more selected from:

a positioning signal indicative of the location of the aircraft;

an altitude signal indicative of the altitude of the aircraft;

an airspeed signal indicative of the airspeed of the aircraft;

an orientation signal indicative of the orientation of the aircraft;

a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the aircraft;

an acceleration signal indicative of the acceleration of the aircraft

calculating a weapon trajectory for a dummy weapon based on one or more selected from:

the positioning signal;

the airspeed signal;

the aircraft velocity; and

the altitude signal;

calculating a target solution for a dummy weapon mounted on the aircraft based on the calculated weapon trajectory and the digital terrain data; and

wherein the targeting solution is one or more selected from a continuously calculated impact point (CCIP) and a continuously calculated release point (CCRP).