QinetiQ, supported by Boeing, has led the UK's Mission Training through Distributed Simulation Capability Concept Demonstrator (MTDS CCD) program to demonstrate delivery of collective mission training to front line aircrew and other warfighters. Following the tremendous success of this demonstrator, the UK embarked on a transformation program. This will turn the MTDS CCD "research demonstrator" into a training facility capable of delivering 44 weeks a year of operational pre-deployment and other training activity. The Distributed Synthetic Air-Land Training or DSALT program as it is known is a highly ambitious solution to meet a pressing short term training gap.

This paper will describe the history of the demonstrator program and how it has evolved into a training facility for Air-Land integration. The demonstrator consisted of ten interchangeable fast jet cockpits in immersive visual enclosures, seven simulated consoles from the rear of an E-3 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft, two Fire Support Team simulators and a Fire Planning Cell training environment. In addition it included a comprehensive suite of computer generated forces, exercise management tools and planning, briefing and debriefing facilities. The paper will then outline the challenges involved in taking a demonstrator and converting it into a reliable, supportable and robust training system at minimal cost. This includes upgrading the system while continuing to deliver training; reverse engineering the documentation needed to provide a certificate of design; and agreeing a set of key performance indicators for a service level agreement, without exposing either the customer or supplier to excessive risk.

DSALT is the UK's premiere facility for the delivery of synthetic air-land integration mission training to teams of front line warfighters. Its success has been achieved through the collaborative development approach adopted between the industry team, the Royal Air Force and the UK Ministry of Defence.