Mr. James M. Miller, Air Force Global Strike Command executive director of logistics and engineering, tries out Beta Flix’s A Circuit training prototype during a demonstration at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. (Sean Green/STRIKEWERX)
By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Marketing and Communications Director
BOSSIER CITY, La. – Air Force Global Strike Command got a hands-on demonstration at the Cyber Innovation Center of a new type of training with the A Circuit trainer prototype.
The new model combines augmented and virtual reality with a physical device to provide the most realistic training possible for the largest concentration of security forces in the U.S. Air Force.
The A Circuit is a security device – similar to a vault door – safeguarding Inter Continental Ballistic Missile fields that require periodic changing of combinations. Because the device is delicate, being off on the combination or even bumping the locking mechanism can cause a user to be “locked out.” Unlocking it again is costly and time consuming for teams of Airmen.
Since May 2019, there were 41 documented issues with the A-Circuit. There were 23 destructive actions taken to remedy these issues that resulted in the loss of the A-Circuit. During that same time frame, there was an expenditure of $376,189.61 due to destructive actions taken. Maintainers also spent a minimum of approximately 2,176 manhours because of these issues.
The Collaborative Environment, via its Partnership Intermediary Agreement between CIC and AFGSC, has contracted with Beta Flix, based in Ruston, Louisiana, to develop training for changing the A-Circuit in AFGSC’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fields.
The prototype will now enter the testing phase.