Aero Simulation Inc. Awarded SBIR Phase III Contract to Extend Containerized OFP Architecture to B-52 Mission Employment Trainer

Tampa, Florida (September 6, 2022) — Aero Simulation Inc. (ASI) is pleased to announce its latest win to extend our containerized Operational Flight Program (OFP) architecture to the B-52 Training System. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III award is based on work performed under a Phase II to produce a Virtual Reality Aircrew Training Device (VRATD) running actual aircraft OFPs for the B-1B Training System.  This contract is awarded by the United States Air Force (USAF) Simulators Program Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in coordination with Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and AFGSC’s Science and Technology (S&T) Office. Working closely with the SPO, AFGSC, and B-52 aircrew, ASI will develop a B-52 Mission Employment Trainer (MET) running B-52 OFPs on a high-fidelity Host simulation and providing a Mixed Reality (MR) interface with a combination of touchscreen instruments and 3D flight and mission controls. 

“It has been an honor to work with AFGSC and the SPO on our B-1 contracts, and now with the addition of the B-52, we are able to show the extensibility of our OFP architecture to new platforms,” said Mike Conti, Chief Executive Officer, ASI.  “The B-52 is an amazing aircraft that will be around for another 3 decades, so to be able to help ensure the longevity of the training system is something we are very excited about. This architecture will allow AFGSC to keep trainers concurrent more easily and save significant sustainment dollars over the life of the platform; it will allow for greater flexibility and reconfigurability as the aircraft adds new engines, a new radar, and implements future upgrades.”

ASI is the prime contractor on the B-1 Training System, T-1 Ground Based Training System, and Remote Simulator Instructor contracts for the SPO which consist of various aircrew and maintenance training devices across multiple sites providing aircrew mission and maintainer training including Distributed Mission Operations.  This award is ASI’s first SBIR Phase III but second transition of the Phase II effort; the first transition consists of implementing the new architecture across all of the B-1 Training System (see AFLCMC Article). ASI will execute all elements of the contract in producing a B-52 MET including program management, software and hardware engineering design, and manufacturing; Boeing will be a major supplier and teammate.

About Aero Simulation Inc.

With over 39 years of experience, Aero Simulation Inc. (ASI) is a leader for innovative all-domain, distributed simulation system design and manufacture; cost-effective modifications, upgrades, and relocations; and sustainment and site support for government, military, and commercial customers worldwide.