Elbit Systems announced that the Israel Air Force (IAF) has approved the "display system" milestone for Elbit Systems' mission training center for pilots of the IAF's F-16C/D and F-16I fighter aircraft.

The IAF approval is an important milestone towards the establishment of a full-fledged mission training center and is a part of a $55 million contract previously awarded to Elbit Systems by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The display system was set up in cooperation with Barco, a global technology company that designs and develops visualization solutions. It includes a 360 degree field of view (FOV) that simulates the FOV of an F-16 crew member. The systems' image generator was developed by Elbit Systems and is based on the "Vega Prime" product of Presagis.

The system resolution exceeds four arcmin/OLP for the full FOV and enables the pilots to "train as you fight", as the systems' visualization emulates almost total reality.

Elbit Systems' TargoTM Helmet Mounted Avionics (HMATM) will also be a part of the system. TargoTM is a comprehensive solution for training aviators to master cutting edge platforms and systems in a cost effective package that covers all stages of the mission, including planning, rehearsal, flying and debriefing.

When completed, the new mission training center will represent a significant breakthrough in the area of operational training. The system is designed to train pilots using a variety of mission scenarios and operational zones, and relevant threat environments within each zone, giving the IAF new and advanced training capabilities and true simulations of air mission reality.

The training center will also allow the IAF to operate some of its training sorties onboard the trainers instead of on the fighter jets themselves, thus maximizing the use of existing resources.