US Army Selects AAI MAST Trainer

The US Army has selected AAI man-portable aircraft survivability trainer (MAST) under a task order from the simulation, training and instrumentation omnibus contract II.

The $10.6m contract includes four option years, and has a potential for 300 systems at a total value of $43m.

Under the contract, AAI will design, develop, produce and test nine first article systems and 41 production systems.

MAST uses a light-emitting diode ultraviolet emitter threat simulator to duplicate an infrared man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) and to train aircrews to encounter surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats during live training exercises.

The MAST is interoperable with the AN/AAR-47 missile warning system and AN/AAR-57 common missile warning system and can record SAM engagements during live training exercises for preparing after-action reviews and debriefing aircrews.

The system is also interoperable, with aircraft instrumentation systems such as the multiple integrated laser system and the AH-64D Longbow Apache tactical engagement simulation system.