Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Helicopter Rehearsal Autonomous Safety & Training System (‘THRUST’) participated in a large-scale exercise of joint forces which included hundreds of live forces including helicopters, air defense platforms, tanks, and land vehicles. Virtual armaments were used rather than live ammunition. During the exercise the forces used IAI’s THRUST system to conduct in-depth debriefing of the battle’s results.

The attack helicopters and air defense units were equipped with IAI’s THRUST and Air Defense Instrumented Training System (ADITS) – both part of IAI’s Ehud family of embedded training systems. Connectivity to the land vehicles was achieved via an integral gateway.

THRUST system offers low-cost and high-value embedded pilot training with maximized safety features. The system is designed to achieve advanced joint forces training capabilities by utilizing network interoperability with IAI’s Ehud system, Laser-based Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) as well as connectivity to Combat Training Centers (CTC\CTSS).

The airborne system is available in two configurations, both are now off-the-shelf products: THRUST airborne pod designed for attack helicopters – specifically Apache AH-64 (Hellfire enclosure), and the Internal case for utility or attack helicopters.

The system also provides enhanced safety capabilities including air collision and obstacle avoidance and enhanced debriefing capabilities to allow reconstruction of all flight data and synchronization of audio and video data.