Support: July 7, 2004

Archives

SOCOM's (Special Operations Command) air force (the 160th Aviation Regiment) will receive a breakthrough type of flight simulator this Summer. The (LASAR) (Light Assault/Attack Reconfigurable) CMS (Combat Mission Simulator) is a flight simulator for the 40 small MH (or AH) 6 Little Bird helicopters SOCOM owns. The simulator puts the full motion mockup of the helicopter cockpit inside a large dome, so that the pilots can look out the normally open doors to see what they would actually see. But what makes LASAR different is that it has a database and graphic system attached. This enables it to use digital pictures satellites or UAVs or aircraft to create three-dimensional graphics for the simulator. This process takes about two hours. The pilots can then rehearse an upcoming, or potential, missions in a very realistic fashion. LASAR can link with other helicopter simulators SOCOM owns, to allow for multi-helicopter mission training.

This MH-6 is military versions of the civilian MD-500. The SOCOM version weighs up to two tons and can carry six commandos, who sit outside on the skids. The MH-6 is small, and has a range of about 500 kilometers. The MH-6 has an extensive array of electronics on board, making it capable of operating at night and in any weather. LASAR allows for training at night and it bad weather, a favored condition for SOCOM missions. 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close