Technology allows land bombing tests to be done at sea

Navy using new system in area combat exercise

From staff and wire reports

A 10-day training exercise by the Navy and Marines will feature more than maneuvers by ships in the Gulf of Mexico and mock combat missions on Eglin Air Force Base this week.

The Navy will use a key high- tech system - its new virtual targeting system that simulates land targets at sea.

It's yet another vital facet of training involving more than 7,400 sailors and Marines aboard 15 ships preparing for an exercise that will last until Dec. 17, military officials said.

Rather than using land-based targets for bombing training, buoys equipped with sensitive microphones are set out in the target area, and the satellite- based Global Positioning System determines each buoy's exact location.

When a bomb drops in the water, its splash will be picked up by each buoy, and a laptop computer aboard the ship uses data transmitted from the buoys to instantly calculate where each munition hits. Another laptop overlays a selected land mass atop the watery target area.

The pilot and gunners are given at-sea coordinates for their simulated land targets. In real life, a spotter on the beach would radio corrections, if needed, to the ship after each hit. Researchers are developing virtual binoculars so spotters also will be able to participate in the training.

The system can be deployed by any kind of ship and the training done almost anywhere. That means saving time and money.

The satellite transmitter will allow participation and oversight from anywhere in the world.

Adm. William Fallon, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said the virtual targeting system initially was viewed by some with skepticism.

"We thought we might use it for about 20 percent of our training," he said.

But testing showed it could be used for up to 80 percent of live- fire training.