The Indian Air Force has placed a procurement order for an indigenous virtual-reality-based Part-Task Trainer designed for its Mirage-2000 fleet. The acquisition marks another stage in the transition of a locally developed iDEX solution from development and testing toward operational use. The trainer was created by New Delhi-based deep-technology company Threye Interactive Pvt Ltd through the Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence programme. It originated under Defence India Start-Up Challenge-5 in the modelling and simulation category and was specifically developed for Mirage-2000 I/TI aircraft. The system combines virtual reality, flight simulation and real-time networking. Its compact PC-based architecture can support individual or group training and can operate in both virtual-reality and non-VR configurations. The Indian Air Force had previously conducted trials of the trainer on the Mirage-2000 platform. Unlike a full-flight simulator, a part-task trainer focuses on selected cockpit functions, aircraft systems and mission activities. This allows aircrew to repeatedly practise complicated procedures without using an operational fighter. The immersive VR environment can also be used to rehearse combat manoeuvres, aircraft-system operations and coordinated missions without exposing aircraft or personnel to the risks associated with live training. By shifting some training activities into simulation, the system can reduce flying hours consumed by training, limit airframe wear and improve availability of operational aircraft. Its modular design could potentially be adapted to other fixed-wing or rotary-wing platforms depending on future service requirements. Threye has also produced an AR/VR technical training system for Mirage-2000 ground crews. That system uses physical replicas, live electrical systems and digital modules to teach maintenance, inspection and fault-diagnosis procedures. It supports simulated fault insertion, procedural guidance, augmented-reality assistance, real-time feedback and networked multi-user training. The company says the ground-crew system has been accepted and deployed by the IAF and can reduce certain training costs to below 5% of conventional training involving operational aircraft.
