A YORKSHIRE based defence consultancy is launching its ... - IDLSoc
A YORKSHIRE based defence consultancy is launching its ... - IDLSoc
A YORKSHIRE based defence consultancy is launching its ... - IDLSoc
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A <strong>YORKSHIRE</strong> <strong>based</strong> <strong>defence</strong> <strong>consultancy</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>launching</strong> <strong>its</strong> newmilitary training programme at a prestigious international conferencein Washington th<strong>is</strong> month (October).SynthesSys, a Whitby <strong>based</strong> company, special<strong>is</strong>es in training military organ<strong>is</strong>ations inNATO communications protocols and equipment for use in combat, and acts as anindependent consultant for the Min<strong>is</strong>try of Defence in the UK. Its training expert<strong>is</strong>e hasmore recently been put to use in Iraq and Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan where some of the systems are usedto enhance operational effectiveness between UK and coalition allies.It has just completed the development of an interactive training package on CD-ROM forpersonnel involved in operating NATO’s Joint Tactical Information D<strong>is</strong>tribution System andthe Multifunctional Information D<strong>is</strong>tribution System (JTIDS/MIDS) Link 16 protocols. Thecompany will launch the programme in front of an international military audience inWashington on October 16.SyntheSys managing director Dr John Hartas said that itwas the first time a company had developed interactivetraining of th<strong>is</strong> kind. It <strong>is</strong> intended to help organ<strong>is</strong>ationsinvolved in NATO communications systems keep pacewith changing technology.“Military communications systems are complex, and areconstantly undergoing development. Trainingprogrammes usually require staff to attend two-daycourses, which <strong>is</strong> expensive in terms of both cost andstaff time,” Dr Hartas said..“JTIDS/MIDS Link 16 training <strong>is</strong> highly special<strong>is</strong>ed andorgan<strong>is</strong>ations around the world send their staff to ourtraining courses. Our new computer <strong>based</strong> programme<strong>is</strong> interactive and will help reinforce training for thosemilitary pilots and communications officers who will beusing it in the field, and also enable them to study intheir own time and at their own pace without having totravel long d<strong>is</strong>tances to do so.“As far as we are aware, there has been nothing like th<strong>is</strong> produced in the past, and we areexcited to be <strong>launching</strong> it at the International Data Link Society conference in Washington.“The IDLS conference <strong>is</strong> the premier event in the military communications community, andto have been asked to present papers there <strong>is</strong> fantastic for us, given that we are a smallcompany from Whitby.”SyntheSys was founded by Dr Hartas in 1991, and now employs 30 people. Its head office<strong>is</strong> in Whitby with staff located around the UK, Australia and USA. Around 35% of <strong>its</strong>business <strong>is</strong> from abroad.
Its core business <strong>is</strong> in assessing communications systems used by the Min<strong>is</strong>try of Defenceboth as systems engineers but also as end users.“A number of our staff team are ex-military who have had to use communication systems inthe field often in exerc<strong>is</strong>e or combat situations. Their expert<strong>is</strong>e <strong>is</strong> critical in assessing newcommunication systems. They work in partnership with our systems engineers to come upwith solutions to technical communications problems so that SyntheSys can then makeinformed recommendations to the MoD and companies involved in the development ofmilitary communications systems,” Dr Hartas explained.SyntheSys' training programmes draw on th<strong>is</strong> expert<strong>is</strong>e, and the company <strong>is</strong> one of theleading training bodies in the world in Variable Message Format (VMF), JTIDS/MIDSnetwork design and management, Tactical Data Links (TDLs), and the NATO Linkprotocols.Their training <strong>is</strong> accessed by <strong>defence</strong> organ<strong>is</strong>ations from NATO countries, including fighterpilots and communications officers who need th<strong>is</strong> expert<strong>is</strong>e in combat, as well as officersresponsible for purchasing communications hardware who need to assess the value of newsystems.The newly developed Link 16 training programme on CD-ROM was made usingMacromedia Flash, and <strong>is</strong> PC and Mac compatible, with computer graphics and cartooncharacters to help users remember key points.“We will be <strong>launching</strong> it in Washington at our stand at the IDLS conference, which we hopewill lead to international interest in the product. It <strong>is</strong> a great opportunity to showcase whatwe do and put SyntheSys in a global context.“We have developed an excellent reputation in tactical data links training, with innovativeapproaches to teaching and learning relevant to the industry. We plan to build on th<strong>is</strong> andexpand our training arm over the next few years.”For more information contact:Dr John Hartas on +44 (0) 1947 821464orCatherine Kennedy Business Impact Group on +44 (0)1423 528333SyntheSys Systems Engineers LtdSt Hilda's Business CentreThe RoperyWhitbyNorth YorkshireYO22 4ET
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