IITSEC, fun show
Posted by John McHale
What makes the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (IITSEC) in Orlando, Fla., fun is the exhibits where you can refuel Air Force F15s in midair, test the avionics of other jet fighters, fire Javelin missiles, test your efficiency with a handgun or rifle, or even fire weapons for a gun boat in rough waters -- all on the show floor.
It's all simulated of course, but if you enjoy video games or really want to see how the military uses modern technology to improve training it's a show worth attending.
One of the hot areas for new training techniques is in dismounted applications such as urban warfare. For decades most of the military has trained for open field battles with large forces, but the scenarios in Iraq and Afghanistan have changed that paradigm.
Virtual reality system integrators are showcasing systems at IITSEC that enable soldiers to train in a computer generated urban environment, then review the performance for the point of view of each warfighter in the unit.
One company designing these systems is Atlantis Cyberspace, Inc., in Honolulu, Hi. Their booth is strategically located next to that of Military & Aerospace Electronics at booth number 1454.
See you at the show.
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
