Training Pilots to Make Split Second Decisions

In aerial combat, the gap between reacting and hesitating is measured in seconds. For pilots facing evolving electronic warfare (EW) threats, no manual or checklist can replace real-world experience. That’s where Elbit Systems’ mobile EW simulation platform, Advanced Mobile Simulation Training Field (AMSTF), comes in. AMSTF may be utilized for both real-time EW training for pilots, as well as the validation and verification of the EW Systems onboard the specific platform.

More than 30 years into his career at Elbit, A – CTO and Business Development lead for Airborne EW – views the simulator not just as a training tool, but as a bridge between theory and instinct. “You can teach a pilot the procedures and symbols, but unless they’ve seen the threat unfold in real time – unless they’ve had to respond under pressure – they won’t be ready when it matters.”

Where Simulation Feels Real

First developed over a decade ago and continuously improved, AMSTF enables training across both aerial and ground-based EW scenarios. It is primarily used for fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters – platforms where pilots must respond with precision under pressure and aircraft survivability is paramount.

What sets Elbit’s system apart? Mobility. “Sometimes it’s a major effort just to bring aircraft to a fixed training range,” says A. “Being able to move the simulator to where the training happens creates operational training flexibility.”

But mobility is only the beginning. Behind it is Elbit’s decades of experience in electronic warfare. “We understand the threats – we’re the same people building the EW systems themselves,” A says. “That lets us simulate a wide range of situations, because we know what comprises these EW systems and threats – and how they interact in the real world.”

A Lab in a Box

Elbit’s mobile simulator doesn’t just project a threat – it lets the customer define it. As part of broader EW programs, Elbit often provides an EW programming lab where users can program threats, define signal characteristics, and adjust mission profiles on the fly. Its open architecture supports real-time updates, allowing customers to test new threat definitions as they’re developed.

“Today’s EW environment is dynamic. Threats evolve weekly – sometimes daily. If your simulator isn’t evolving too, you’re already behind,” says A.

In practice, the AMSTF enables full-spectrum, multi-layer simulations – radar-guided threats, laser targeting, even anti-aircraft missiles. Each aircraft onboard EW sensor receives and processes synthetic signals just as it would in real combat. Warnings appear on the pilot’s screen, and decisions must be made on the spot.
“We simulate what a real engagement feels like – not just what it looks like,” says A. “This isn’t about button-pushing. It’s about teaching muscle memory and decision-making flow – the kind you need under fire.”

Flexible Training That Fits the Mission

Elbit’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some customers – especially those with limited budgets – choose a scaled-down version of the EW simulator with a limited threat set but the same core realism. 

At a recent UK-hosted international EW meeting, Emitter and Decoy Fest 2025, Elbit demonstrated the AMSTF system to a group of end users and industry partners, where a real fighter aircraft and transport helicopter participated. The response was especially positive around the platform’s wide range of capabilities and modularity. Training centers can be configured with multiple mobile AMSTF units linked to a centralized command post, where instructors can manage the entire training scenario, introduce real-time changes, and observe how pilots respond under pressure.
A recalls his time overseeing EW systems for the F-15 fleet. “I’d talk to pilots who didn’t recognize the symbols or understand what was happening on screen. That’s not a technical issue – it’s a training issue. You must prepare someone for a threat they’ve never seen before. And in combat, confusion costs lives.”