Weapons Systems Trainer (WST) is a training device (

simulator A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or process, whereas the s ...

) designed particularly for weapons training. A term commonly used by the

United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national sec ...

, particularly for

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engine ...

simulators. For aircraft, this type of trainer often has a complex terrain

database In computing, a database is an organized collection of data stored and accessed electronically. Small databases can be stored on a file system, while large databases are hosted on computer clusters or cloud storage. The design of databases s ...

, a wide-angle high-resolution visual system and a high computer capacity, so that

weapon A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, ...

s work can be practised, recorded, and debriefed. Because of the compromises necessary with a large angle visual system, older WSTs tended not to have a motion platform. With advances in visual display technology such as domes and partial domes compatible with motion platforms and lightweight displays such as the CAE FOHMD, more WSTs are being fitted with motion platforms and so constitute Full Mission Simulators or Combat Mission Simulators (FMS/CMS). For more basic (non-weapons) training, see also Operational Flight Trainer (OFT)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weapons System Trainer United States Air Force military education and training