Our innovation project FACT (Firefight and Combat Trainer) offers soldiers ideal conditions for training combat situations in firefighting. Even complex urban combat scenarios can be simulated with FACT. Such skills are essential for the operational readiness of the troops. The problem with conventional training systems was that they could only simulate parts of combat reality. This means that maneuver ammunition ("blanks") must be used for training, which not only makes the exercise more artificial, but is also expensive and produces a lot of waste.
The laser weapons at FACT are identical to real assault rifles in terms of weight and operation, but do not use ammunition. A gas cartridge in the weapon generates a recoil and a realistic muzzle blast with every shot. In addition, participants in the FACT system wear electric pads on their bodies: when a soldier is hit, this can trigger a noticeable muscle contraction. This is the first time such a training system has provided physical feedback in the event of a hit. The data backend can also be used to create detailed analyses of combat behavior within seconds. Based on this, trainers can give the soldiers tips on what they can do better.
