Leonardo is trying to put military pilot training on a new trajectory with FITS4TOP (Future Integrated Training System for TOP Pilots), a next-gen simulator designed to blend real flight with virtual training.
At its core, the system features advanced hardware, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and modern avionics to expand Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training capabilities.
It lets real aircraft operate alongside simulators and computer-generated forces in the same mission, stretching training across air, sea, and land domains.
In practice, pilots can fly live missions while facing simulated threats, supported by advanced computing and secure networks.
Trainees can also work in real time with instructors and other pilots in simulators, stepping through increasingly complex mission scenarios.
Data from both simulations and real operations is collected and analyzed, then routed through ground controllers who coordinate closely with aircraft during close-support training.
Live-Virtual Demo
Co-funded by the European Union, FITS4TOP is meant to support collaborative defense projects across member states.
Recently, Leonardo demonstrated the system at its Venegono Superiore site in Italy, flying an M-346 alongside ground-based simulators to validate the capability.
The event was attended by officials and industry representatives from Italy, Denmark, France, and Romania, and reportedly marked a key step in developing LVC training for future military pilots.
“FITS4TOP is more than a program: it is a strategic leap forward in military flight training, combining innovation and international cooperation to prepare the next generation of top pilots for the challenges of tomorrow,” the company stated.
