![]() ![]() THE HON. GREG COMBET MP Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Friday, 21 august 2009 042/2009 ENHANCED VIRTUAL WORLD FOR TEST-DRIVING AIRCRAFT Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today opened a $1.7 million upgrade of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) flight simulation research facility at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), which will provide crucial support for future military aircraft. “The Air Operations Simulation Centre in Melbourne is a unique Australian research facility, capable of accurately simulating the full scope of flight operations and combat scenarios for a variety of military aircraft,” Mr Combet said. “The facility is designed to introduce a far more realistic and immersive experience for pilots and operators, and allows Defence to test-drive aircraft and tactics without leaving the ground. “By recreating real-life situations in a virtual environment, this facility allows air combat operations to be rehearsed and evaluated at a significantly reduced cost and without putting ADF personnel in harm’s way,” Mr Combet said. “In addition to supporting in-service aircraft, the upgraded centre will also be used to support the acquisition of the Multi-Role Helicopter and to perform analysis for the new Super Hornets. “The upgraded facility will enable DSTO to communicate live over secure networks with other defence facilities around the world, facilitating joint and coalition exercises on a larger scale. “This connectivity is critical in building a highly-networked Australian Defence Force,” Mr Combet said. The launch of the enhanced facility coincides with the 70th anniversary of DSTO’s Fishermans Bend laboratory, where the black box flight recorder was invented in the 1950s. “This laboratory continues to lead the world in technologies for the life-extension of operational aircraft, a capability that has saved the ADF many hundreds of millions of dollars over the years,” Mr Combet said. Please note Defence Media has a new phone number: 02 6127 1999. The existing number will be automatically diverted to the new number for three months. The existing after-hours duty mobile 0408 498 664 will remain. Media contacts: Rod Hilton (Greg Combet): 02 6277 4771 or 0458 276 619 Edwina Callus (DSTO) 03 9626 7131 or 0419 984 488 Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664 |