The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) have recognised a gap exists between their current training capabilities designed to support a past generation of ab-initio flying training requirements, and the projected need to produce aircrew capable of performing in next-generation operational aircraft with modern mission systems. The MoD is responding by conceptualising a future UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) system design, to which industry is anticipated to propose a number of future synthetic technology solutions. Any evaluation of new, potentially emergent, synthetic capabilities to support claims of integrated training capability, however, must include informed consideration of how such technologies are conceived in current practice, the degree of effectiveness, and for what projected purposes these may be used in relation to future training systems.

Thus, the MoD sponsored an applied study into in-service synthetic technologies and protocols, viewed in terms of how these may become integrated into a next-generation flying training system. The study includes assessments of sixteen cross-functional synthetic technology areas, current and projected applications, a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) construct, and a summary-level schema intended to inform MoD decision-makers on selection protocols where synthetic technologies are conceptualised for training system purposes.

This paper describes the study approach and synthesises the synthetic technologies assessment and schema results. Data to be reported within each synthetic technology area include: (1) current and projected advantages and limitations (e.g., speech recognition systems provide a practical mechanism to navigate MFD screens, however, high-noise and/or stress environments cause imperfect results); (2) TRL; (3) projections of future training techniques (e.g., advanced distributed learning systems enable change in training delivery strategies to an 'online' flight school paradigm); and (4) projections of training tasks, methods, or related purposes, as may be applied to an future flying training system's operational capability.