Full Combat Mission Training

Full Combat Mission Training (FCMT) is a program element within the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, specifically under System Development and Demonstration. The primary goal of FCMT is to advance the Air Force's Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) and Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) training environments. By integrating live, virtual, and constructive elements, FCMT aims to enhance operational readiness and training efficiency for aircrews and combat support personnel. The program supports both research and development activities, focusing on the integration of fielded and newly acquired training devices into DMO/LVC networks.

Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) is a major line item within FCMT, with objectives centered on developing, demonstrating, and inserting Multi-Level Security (MLS) capabilities. These capabilities are critical for supporting LVC training for fifth-generation platforms and enable secure interoperability among U.S. and coalition partners. Efforts include validating rule sets for Five Eyes (FVEY) CDS solutions, rapidly searching Security Classification Guides (SCGs) to identify focus areas, and creating common rule sets for interoperability. The investment is intended to ensure secure, integrated training environments that can support advanced operational scenarios.

Distributed Mission Operations Development focuses on the development, demonstration, and insertion of LVC-related technologies and proficiency-based continuation training strategies. The program aims to ensure persistent DMO interoperability, with planned demonstrations in at least two mission training applications each year. Increased funding supports expedited efforts to achieve seamless interoperability across various training platforms, which is essential for maintaining high levels of aircrew proficiency and readiness.

Development and Validation of DMO and Blended Training Assessment Tools is another key objective. This effort involves studies to assess and validate LVC training processes and the accreditation of blended training environments. The program develops objective enhancement and measurement tools to evaluate training effectiveness. Planned activities include trade space analytics for integrating purpose-built components into the virtual ecosystem and demonstrations of blended live and virtual training interoperability in live flight exemplars. These initiatives aim to refine training methods and improve the integration of virtual and live training events.

Network Studies support the integration of fielded and newly introduced high-fidelity flight and mission trainers, including those used by joint and coalition partners. Research in this area evaluates local and distributed services to reduce network transport delays while maintaining or enhancing training quality. The program also explores alternative approaches for on-premises and cloud-based services to improve network responsiveness and agility. Increased funding is directed toward expediting cross-domain network solutions, which are vital for supporting complex, distributed training scenarios.

Gateway Development and Legacy Trainers Integration is an ongoing effort scheduled through FY 2030. The objective is to develop gateways that enable legacy trainers to integrate with high-fidelity trainers and to create live-to-synthetic integrated training solutions. This work ensures that older training systems remain compatible with modern network architectures, preserving valuable training assets and maximizing the utility of existing investments.

The FCMT program is managed primarily by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Dayton, OH, and includes necessary civilian pay expenses for program management and execution. The program's justification lies in its ability to provide advanced, secure, and interoperable training environments that enhance the operational and strategic readiness of Air Force personnel. By investing in these research and development activities, the Air Force seeks to maintain a robust synthetic training enterprise capable of meeting current and future mission requirements.