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
NEWS 
