A call to the detector: an anti-drone gun simulator will prepare you to fight UAVs

Russian specialists have created the world's first simulator for practicing skills in handling anti-drone weapons, which has no analogues. The user gets into a realistic environment and learns how to complete missions with different scenarios. The simulator will help train the military, who must resist drone attacks. The first development classes are scheduled to begin in the fall.

Simulator for fighting drones

SFU students have created the world's first educational simulator platform for learning how to work with anti-drone rifles and drone detection systems. The program virtually reproduces real scenarios of fighting drones. In it, you can practice the skills of handling various models of anti-drone guns (for example, "Pars" and "Harpy"), detectors ("Bulat" v.3) and UAVs (from FPV devices to DJI and the military Lelek-100).

Each virtual device is made as an exact copy of the original one. The powerful Unreal Engine game engine is used for such detail. The main task of the developers is to get as close to reality as possible: radio signals, GPS functions and device interaction are simulated so that the training resembles work at a training ground.

The program develops practical skills: proper use of an anti-drone rifle, working with detectors, and decision-making in stressful situations. There is also a theoretical part: a section with materials and tests. They contain not only questions from the textbook, but also videos with real scenarios (for example, "suddenly a drone appeared — what should I do?"), where you need to choose the right solution. After each mission or exam, the system automatically generates statistics: the number of errors, the time spent, and the compliance of solutions with standards.

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Modern drones are not just "toys". They are diverse and powerful, and the means of detecting and suppressing them require special skills. However, training on real equipment involves high costs and risks: the cost of an anti—drone rifle starts from 200 thousand rubles, a detector - up to 1 million, a UAV — from 150 thousand rubles. In addition, real training grounds are not always available, and beginners lose the opportunity to practice their skills. The simulator solves these problems: it allows you to learn without risking your life and equipment, saves money and allows you to gain the necessary experience.

Among the key advantages of the system, the developers noted higher efficiency — the qualification of specialists increases by 50-60% and reliability, as 70% of trainees demonstrate faster and more accurate actions in real situations.

According to the authors, the first pilot simulator classes at the SFU are planned in the fall. In the future, it is planned to add VR technologies and physical models of guns for greater realism.

Practicing anti-drone skills

Dmitry Kornev, editor of the MilitaryRussia website, noted that simulators reduce the training time for specialists, but stressed the controversial choice of the American game engine Unreal Engine for the project. In his opinion, it is more reasonable to use Russian analogues (for example, Unity Giant), since foreign solutions can be blocked at any time.

Military expert Yuri Lyamin added that the simulator is useful at the initial stage of training, as it allows you to study basic algorithms of actions, characteristics of equipment and save money.

— However, after the simulator, it is mandatory to practice your skills at a real training ground. For full immersion, it is better to finalize the project using VR and physical models of guns, since the tactile sensations from the mass—dimensional analogues improve the habituation to weapons," the specialist concluded.

IT expert Daniil Arzhakov from Synergy University emphasized the uniqueness of the project: it is focused not on controlling drones, but on combating them, which is important for military departments. In his opinion, using the Unreal Engine is a plus, but it is important to ensure scalability: the simulator must work even on weak computers in order to become a massive training tool.

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The modern threat of UAVs requires innovative training technologies. Simulators solve the problem of the high cost and danger of real-world training: they are safe, quickly updated to meet changes in technology, and also allow for effective development of anti-drone skills, says Victoria Beresneva, director of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Sports and Methodological Center"Department of Esports.

— The prospects of such technology are beyond doubt. However, another question is what the result of its practical implementation will be. Before making an assessment, I think it's worth waiting for the appearance of a finished product or at least a fully functional prototype," said Mikhail Novoselov, Head of the Department of Theory and Methodology of Computer Sports, Chess and Digital Technologies at the Russian Academy of Sciences "GTSOLIFK", Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences.

Daniil Lopatnikov, Deputy Head of the Digital Sports Development Service at the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the Russian Federation, emphasized the difficulty of developing realistic simulators: it is necessary to take into account the technical characteristics of the devices, sound, weather conditions and wind. He called the testing of the simulator by specialists with combat experience (including veterans of the SVO) the key moment in order to learn the real nuances of fighting UAVs.