Indra's advanced position air controller simulator (SIMFAC) has been awarded with the NATO's top accreditation for day and night time missions.

The system has been in operation since January 2011 at the Spanish Air Force's airbase in Alcantarilla (Murcia).

Such an accreditation allows the SIMFAC to perform all sorts of training procedures during Close Air Support (CAS) operations in levels 1, 2 and 3, Urban-CAS and Emergency-CAS. This accreditation allows any allied country to train their staff with the simulator.

The system recreates the different aircraft guiding missions of an advanced controller. These include the identification of objectives, location of allies, air control in improvised runways, support for operations in urban environments and under any meteorological condition.

The simulator has a semi-spherical screen that puts the controller team or TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) - two to four operators - in a highly realistic scenario. This scenario recreates the movements of aircraft and vehicles in the operations area, both in open fields and in cities, during day or night time and under different meteorological conditions. A joystick is used to control the scenario displayed, achieving a full 360º vision.

SIMFAC also has a built-in multiple support aircraft simulator (with fighter aircraft, helicopter, transport aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle models) that allows the instructor to occupy the pilot's role. The pilot must be coordinated with the land team during these operations, maintaining the communications protocol and receiving their support to successfully complete the mission set forth.

Finally, the simulator has an instructor position from which the tactical environment is established: the scenario, behavior of allied, enemy or neutral entities, definition of active hostile environment with risks for allies or civil parties and meteorological and visibility conditions are established, among others.