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Question No. 1 - What is the Weapon Effects Simulation system?
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Answer No. 1 - The Weapon Effects Simulation system, commonly
referred to as WES, is a live simulation system to be delivered as
six separate suites. WES is comprised of the following sub-systems:
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- Direct Fire Weapon Effects Simulators, or DFWES, include
lasers mounted on all direct fire weapons such as rifles,
machine guns and missiles, as well as laser detectors integrated
onto soldier and vehicle players. Players are also equipped with
miniature computers, radios, global positioning systems and
power packs used to process, transmit and receive all engagement
data. DFWES will also include the Observer Controller equipment
that initializes player status and collects engagement data
directly from players for field After Action Reviews. All suites
will include DFWES.
- Area Weapon Effects Simulation, or AWES, is computer software
generated, radio transmitted simulation of area weapon fire.
Area weapons include artillery and mortars, minefields, and
nuclear, biological and chemical events. Observer Controllers
and the Exercise Control centre will transmit all AWES
engagements. All suites will have AWES capability.
- Exercise Control, or EXCON, is a purpose-built control centre
that will house all the people, hardware and software required
to run WES exercises. Only the Wainwright suite will have an
EXCON facility. It will include the computers, databases and
software required to conduct Exercise Planning and Preparation
(EPP), to monitor capture and record engagement data, and to
prepare After Action Reviews (AAR) and Take Home Packages (THP).
It will also include the Operator Analysts who will monitor each
training exercise and highlight relevant lessons learned as they
occur. Using the collected and highlighted engagement data, Army
training officers will prepare AARs for the exercising units.
- Communication and Information System, or CIS, is a separate
radio system used for the transmission of engagement data
between the EXCON and the players in the field. Only the
Wainwright suite will have a CIS.
- Contractor Conducted Logistics Support, or CCLS, is the
integrated provision of all support and repair services to WES
for a ten-year period following final delivery. All suites will
include some form of CCLS.
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Question No. 2 - What is the difference between a fully
instrumented and a non-instrumented WES system?
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Answer No. 2 - Fully instrumented refers to the Communication
and Information System (CIS) in the Wainwright suite, that transmits
signals between the Exercise Control facility and the players in the
field. There will be no CIS in the Gagetown suite hence it is
referred to as being non-instrumented. |
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Question No. 3 - What is live simulation?
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Answer No. 3 - Live simulation occurs when real people use
real systems to conduct a simulation. WES is a live simulation
system that will permit soldiers to use themselves, their real
weapons and their vehicles as simulators. Each weapon will fire
blank ammunition that triggers the firing of a laser pulse. Each
laser pulse simulates the firing of real ammunition. Laser detectors
on the players detect hits or near misses. Virtual simulation of
some area weapons will be the only exception to this, where soldiers
will fire area weapons that are simulated by computers. |
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Question No. 4 - Can WES be used to train for peacekeeping
operations?
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Answer No. 4 - Yes. Soldiers preparing for peacekeeping
operations must train for the worst-case situation that peace may
deteriorate. Before deploying to any operation, units will undergo
WES training at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre. The WES
system will help provide senior commanders with confirmation that
units have achieved a high level of readiness, and that those units
are ready for deployment. |
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Question No. 5 - Why are the principal and secondary WES suites
being located in such remote locations as Wainwright and Gagetown?
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Answer No. 5 - Wainwright is the only training area with
sufficient manoeuvre space for Battle Group and larger sized units
and formations. Gagetown is home to the principal Army combat
schools, where WES will dramatically enhance their individual
training courses. The Army will also have four dismounted infantry
company suites of WES equipment that will be available for use by
units across Canada. |
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Question No. 6 - Will the Reserves be able to use WES?
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Answer No. 6 - Yes. Reservists will use WES when attending
courses at Army schools in Gagetown. Reserve units will be able to
schedule the use of the four dismounted infantry company suites for
training activities in their local areas. For two weeks each summer,
selected Reserve units from across Canada will participate in
Reserve WES training at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in
Wainwright. Many Reservists will also have opportunities to serve in
Regular Force units that undergo pre-deployment high readiness
training in Wainwright. |
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Question No. 7 - Will the wearing of WES equipment interfere
with soldier's movement or with the camouflage capability of their
world class Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) combat uniforms and
load carriage equipment?
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Answer No. 7 - No. The WES Soldier Sub-system will be fully
integrated into the helmet cover and the new tactical vest. A thin
flexible cable, connecting the helmet-mounted detectors to the
tactical vest, is the only item that a soldier would not normally
experience. Our allies have proven that these cables do not
interfere with a soldier's movement. The integrated laser detectors
are small, but will be visible at short range. They will not degrade
the soldier's camouflage at typical (long range) detection and
engagement ranges. |
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Question No. 8 - The Air Force often supports land operations
with helicopters and fighter aircraft. Will these Air Force assets
be able to participate is WES training?
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Answer No. 8 - No. However, the Air Force is currently
planning to develop a WES capability for the Griffon helicopter.
There are no plans to provide WES capability to fighter aircraft at
this time. |
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Question No. 9 - Many people and farm livestock use the
Wainwright and Gagetown training areas. Will WES lasers be a danger
to them?
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Answer No. 9 - No. All short and medium-range lasers will be
Class 1 lasers, which are completely eye safe. There will be eight
Class 3a long-range lasers, used with the TOW long-range Anti-Tank
missile system. These are scanning lasers that fire ultra-short
pulses. They are considered to be completely eye safe under their
normal operating conditions because of the way soldiers employ these
weapons (and consequently the attached lasers), and because of the
scanning operation of the lasers. |
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Question No. 10 - Are there any plans to expand the capabilities
of the Weapon Effects Simulation system?
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Answer No. 10 - Yes. Firstly, if additional funding becomes
available, the Project Office will exercise a contract option to buy
up to nine additional dismounted infantry company suites. With these
suites, it will be possible to equip all thirteen Regular and
Reserve Force brigades with their own WES system. These additional
suites would provide Army units with the capability to train as
realistically as possible down to the lowest possible level in their
home locations. One or more of these suites could also be used for
in-theatre training during deployed operations. Also depending on
additional funding and the maturity of the technology, the Project
Office will exercise a contract option to buy up to 169 grenade
launcher simulators for Wainwright.
Secondly, all future Army weapon and vehicle acquisitions will be
required to include an integrated WES capability.
Finally, work has commenced to procure an urban operations training
system. Such a system could include an urban operations training
village in Wainwright that is seamlessly integrated with WES. It
could also include the expansion or standardization of existing
urban training sites across the Army. And, it could include the
addition of other types of live, constructive or virtual simulation. |
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