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. a housing configured for attachment to an aircraft;

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

c. 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 helmet mounted display;

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

i. the location of the aircraft;

ii. the orientation of the aircraft;

iii. the velocity of the aircraft;

iv. the acceleration of the aircraft;

v. an image from a target on the ground;

vi. the air speed of the aircraft;

vii. the altitude of the aircraft;

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

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

ii. transmitting the target signal wirelessly to a cockpit terminal in the cockpit of the aircraft;

iii. receiving from the at least one or more sensors one or more selected from:

a. a positioning signal indicative of the location of the aircraft;

b. an altitude signal indicative of the altitude of the aircraft.

c. an airspeed signal indicative of the airspeed of the aircraft;

d. an orientation signal indicative of the orientation of the aircraft;

e. a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the aircraft;

f. an acceleration signal indicative of the acceleration of the aircraft

iv. calculating the velocity of the aircraft from the positioning signal; and

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

a. the positioning signal;

b. the airspeed signal;

c. the aircraft velocity; and

d. the altitude signal;

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

vii. receiving an HMD orientation signal from one or more selected from an accelerometer and a gyroscope on a helmet mounted display (HMD), the orientation signal being indicative of the orientation of the HMD;

viii. determining one or more selected from a helmet display CCIP signal and a helmet display CCRP signal from the CCIP, CCRP and/or and HMD orientation signal;

ix. wirelessly transmitting one or more selected from the helmet display CCIP signal and the helmet display CCRP signal to a helmet mounted display in the aircraft;

x. receiving a pickle signal; and

xi. 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 either of claims 1 , wherein the training system includes:

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

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

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

5 . The training system as claimed in claim 6 , 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:

a. receiving a control signal from a cockpit terminal; and

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

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

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

b. transmitting the sensor signal to the surface terminal.

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

a. transmitting the sensor signal to the cockpit terminal.

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

a. receiving a confirmation signal from the surface terminal.

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

a. transmitting the confirmation signal to the cockpit terminal.

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

a. determining a target signal from the target location; and

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

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

a. determining a CCIP display signal from the CCIP; and

b. wirelessly transmitting the CCIP display signal to a cockpit terminal.

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

a. receiving a pickle signal; and

b. actuating the release of a dummy weapon.

14 . 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.

15 . The training system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the rack is mounted to the housing.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

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

a. providing a training system as claimed in claim 1 ;

b. receiving a target signal from a surface terminal;

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

i. a positioning signal indicative of the location of the aircraft;

ii. an altitude signal indicative of the altitude of the aircraft.

iii. an airspeed signal indicative of the airspeed of the aircraft;

iv. an orientation signal indicative of the orientation of the aircraft;

v. a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the aircraft;

vi. an acceleration signal indicative of the acceleration of the aircraft

a. receiving an HMD orientation signal from one or more selected from an accelerometer and a gyroscope on a helmet mounted display (HMD), the orientation signal being indicative of the orientation of the HMD;

b. calculating a targeting solution of a dummy weapon mounted on the aircraft;

c. generating a helmet mounted display signal from the target signal, the targeting solution and the HMD orientation signal; and

d. transmitting the helmet mounted display signal wirelessly to a helmet mounted display arrangement;

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