Italy’s Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness has contracted Canadian training system provider CAE to develop a Predator unmanned aircraft system (UAS) mission trainer for the Italian Air Force.

CAE (Chalet 56) and UAS manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (Hall 3, B132) are developing the high-fidelity mission trainer specifically for Italian Air Force Predator As and MQ-9 Predator Bs. CAE will conduct flight-test data gathering on actual Predators to develop flight system and sensor payload simulations.

CAE plans to deliver the UAS mission trainer to Amendola Air Base in southeast Italy in 2017. The zero-flight-time training capability is expected to improve operational readiness and flight safety compared to conventional approaches to live training, the company said. The Italian Air Force also plans to develop an unmanned systems center of excellence for training.

“We are pleased to be supporting the Italian Air Force with its Predator training requirements, as well as leveraging our growing international partnership with General Atomics to provide comprehensive training solutions for the Predator family of remotely piloted aircraft,” said Gene Colabatistto, CAE group president for defense and security.