Training devices have traditionally been dedicated to a single purpose: maintenance or operator training of a specified system. The success of the multipurpose field radar training devices delivered to a major training site has proven that the users are no longer tied to these limited concepts. Each training device consists of six training positions which can be used simultaneously to train any combination of: Radar Type 1 operators, Radar Type 1 maintenance, Radar Type 2 operators, and Radar Type 2 maintenance. Unique design of a single software program combined with the training exercises makes possible this multiple use, with a resulting reduction of the trainer development costs of over 40%. The trainer availability has been in excess of 99% and provides over 30,000 hours of student training time/year. This design flexibility also made it possible for the trainer to be used as an engineering tool when operational changes were desired on the tactical hardware. Operational procedures were developed on the trainer prior to specification development and implementation of changes on the tactical hardware. This greatly reduced the changes which normally occur during prime system design.

Additional multipurpose trainers are being built for systems such as a field position locating communication system, using the proven design concepts of the radar trainers. While full operational training is being conducted including simulation of complex test equipment at one or more of these training stations, advanced maintenance training can be conducted, at any or all of the remaining training positions.

A summary of the operation and maintenance training features provided by these multiple use trainers highlights the impressive potential of the single design for other training applications.