3SDL has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for delivery of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) training to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
Awarded after successful completion of a short notice requirement for ISTAR support to British Army Foundation Training (FT) in Kenya during fiscal 2012/13, the contract involves supply of comprehensive ISTAR support to BATUK during the Askari Thunder exercises in Kenya, and Wessex Storm exercise in the UK over the one year, starting this month.
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Under the contract, the company will supply a full range of live ISTAR emulation, including DH3, H450, MQ-9 Reaper and close air support (CAS) aircraft, along with MX15HDi sensor, three DA42 multi-purpose platforms (MPPs), and remotely operated video enhanced receiver (ROVER) compatible datalinks with remote viewing terminal (RVTs).
In addition, Joint Air Land Organisation accredited CAS qualified crews, and highly experienced ground liaison officers (GLOs) will be embedded in BATUK exercise control and deployed Battlegroup/Brigade Headquarters, to help ensure the ISTAR requirements of the target audience are fully addressed at all times.
Operating from Wilson Airfield in Nairobi, the DA42 MPPs will normally fly a single six-hour mission every day or night during BATUK scenarios, each requiring a combination of ISTAR and CAS platforms.
Besides coordinating the on-task time, the GLOs will provide RVTs to BATUK exercise control, the Battlegroup/Brigade HQs and the ground troops to show the live FMV feed, which is also recorded by the company and provided to the training audience for analysis and debriefing missions.
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By GlobalDataThe ISTAR package will fully support the UK’s 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is readying for deployment to Kenya for Exercise Askari Thunder in 2014.
3SDL has already provided similar training to the brigade using identical equipment as part of Joint Warrior 13-1 Exercise last month.
Image: 3SDL senior GLO explaining the ISR tasking process to exercising UK soldiers. Photo: courtesy of 3SDL.
