Simtek APX-119 Today’s trainer must be ready for tomorrow’s architecture. Military simulation is changing rapidly. The focus is no longer simply on building a highly realistic standalone simulator. The next generation of training systems must be capable of connecting, adapting, expanding, and integrating new technologies as requirements evolve. The U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment (STE) is a clear example of that shift. The Army’s vision calls for common synthetic e

Simtek - H60 Flight Simulator The flight simulation industry is changing. In July 2026, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) introduced its most significant update to Flight Simulation Training Device qualification in decades. The new framework introduces the FSTD Capability Signature (FCS) and places greater emphasis on matching simulator capabilities and fidelity to the actual training task being performed. For simulator manufacturers, training organizations, ai

SIMTEK - T-6 FLIGHT SIMULATOR Flight simulation has changed dramatically. Traditional full-cockpit simulators are now being joined by virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and other immersive training systems. But no matter how advanced the visuals become, one thing has not changed: Pilots still train with their hands. A simulator can reproduce an aircraft cockpit with impressive visual accuracy, but if the switches, knobs, controls, and displays do not feel and operate l

In flight simulation, fidelity matters—but not every part of a training device needs to be built exactly like the aircraft. Simtek F-18 Flight Simulator For prime contractors and simulator integrators, one of the most important decisions during development is determining where aircraft-level fidelity directly supports the training objective and where it simply adds unnecessary cost, complexity, weight, and schedule risk. The goal should not always be to reproduce an aircraft

From all of us at Simtek—thank you for your service. The U.S. Coast Guard stands watch when it matters most—often in the worst conditions, with lives on the line and zero room for error. On your birthday, we’re recognizing the men and women who protect our shores, enforce maritime law, secure critical waterways, and lead some of the most respected search-and-rescue operations in the world. Always ready—because the mission doesn’t wait Coast Guard operations are unique: one da

Selecting a supplier for a flight-simulation program involves more than finding a company that can manufacture a panel, instrument, or display. Prime contractors need a simulated avionics partner that understands the full program lifecycle—from early engineering and prototype development through repeatable production, documentation, delivery, and long-term support. The right partner should strengthen the program, reduce technical and schedule risk, and remain responsive when

A simulator that cannot train is not a low-cost solution. Lower-cost simulator hardware can be attractive at the beginning of a program. Budgets are tight. Schedules are aggressive. A lower initial quote may appear to create an easy path to getting a device built, delivered, and into service. But the purchase price is only one part of the cost. For simulator OEMs, training organizations, and program managers, the more important question is not simply, “What does this hardware

Simtek helps commercial and defense training programs repair, reproduce, reverse engineer, and modernize unsupported simulator cockpit hardware. Commercial aircraft fleets often remain in service for decades. Defense platforms may operate even longer. They receive upgrades, mission changes, avionics modifications, and life-extension programs long after the original cockpit hardware was designed. Simulators must keep pace. Eventually, many operators and simulator OEMs face the

F-16 CENTER PEDESTAL DISPLAY In simulator hardware, fidelity is often discussed in broad terms. High fidelity. Low fidelity. Aircraft-representative. Training-capable. But real fidelity is not created by one large feature or one impressive-looking cockpit assembly. It lives in the details. It is found in the feel of a switch as it moves through its detent. It is found in the brightness and clarity of an annunciator. It is found in the spacing of a panel legend, the resistance

Simtek C-130 Flight Simulator Control Panel When prime contractors select simulation hardware partners, they are not simply looking for a supplier that can produce a panel, display, or instrument. They need a company that understands the realities of program execution: technical requirements, schedule pressure, repeatability, quality documentation, long-term support, and the ability to deliver products that perform reliably in demanding training environments. That is where Si

Simtek - Simulated Avionics Simulator programs are under constant pressure to reduce cost. Customers want shorter lead times, easier maintenance, and lower acquisition cost. All without sacrificing the realism needed to support effective training. The good news is that lowering cost does not have to mean lowering training value. The key is identifying where fidelity truly matters and where a simpler, purpose-built solution can provide the same training benefit. Focus Fidelity

In flight simulation, excellence is not accidental. It is engineered. Every realistic avionics panel, display, control, lightplate, and cockpit component begins with a deep understanding of how the real aircraft system looks, feels, operates, and performs in a training environment. At Simtek, mechanical and electrical engineering work together to turn complex requirements into reliable, manufacturable, simulator-ready products. For decades, Simtek has supported the flight sim