Simulators, All Types

The Simulators, All Types program under the Army's Procurement of Ammunition appropriation is designed to support the acquisition of a diverse set of training simulators for use by Army personnel. The primary goal of this program is to provide realistic battlefield effects for individual and collective training, operational readiness, and testing requirements in accordance with Department of Defense Instruction 3000.04 and Army Regulation 5-13. These simulators are not used in combat but are critical for preparing soldiers for real-world scenarios. They support war reserve, operational plans, and homeland defense missions. The FY 2026 budget request includes procurement of ten variants of simulators, each tailored to simulate specific battlefield events or weapon effects.

The indoor weapons fire simulator is a new start in FY 2026. It is designed to replicate the effects of booby traps and gunfire in indoor environments, enhancing training realism for close-quarters combat scenarios. The procurement supports annual training requirements and builds depot stock levels in alignment with Army goals. Contracting and delivery are managed through Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, with first deliveries expected in late 2027.

The incoming rocket propelled grenade (RPG) simulator is also a new start in FY 2026. This device simulates the launch and flight of an RPG, including a smoke trail guided on a wire, allowing trainees to experience and react to RPG threats in a controlled environment. The procurement is justified by the need for realistic anti-armor threat training and is managed similarly through Picatinny Arsenal.

The high order blast effect simulator creates a visual and auditory representation of a high-order explosion, with a reddish-orange flame and airborne debris, to train soldiers in recognizing and responding to blast events. The procurement supports both annual training and depot requirements, with production engineering and delivery scheduled for FY 2026 and beyond.

The target kill simulator replicates the visual effect of a destroyed vehicle burning on the battlefield, producing black smoke for a set period. It is used to train soldiers in target assessment and battlefield damage scenarios. The procurement is managed by UDC USA, Inc. and supports large-scale training exercises.

The projectile ground burst simulator is a hand-thrown device that simulates the noise and effects of artillery shells in flight and ground explosion, with a whistle, flash, and loud report. It is essential for troop maneuver training and is produced by Pyrotechnique by Grucci Inc. at Rock Island Arsenal, IL.

Other simulators funded in this line item include those designed to replicate specific battlefield effects such as grenade detonations, chemical attacks, tank gunfire, and target hits. These support force-on-force and collective training. The objective of this budget line is to maintain a robust inventory of training simulators that meet the Army's operational, training, and test requirements, ensuring soldiers are prepared for a wide range of battlefield scenarios.