Lockheed Martin launched a new software interface based on a modified version of Microsoft’s ESP system at the ITEC 2010 conference and exhibition in London in May.

Prepar3D (pronounced “prepared”) enables rapid creation of medium-fidelity simulations. Lockheed Martin formed an agreement with Microsoft late last year to develop new applications of ESP, which was originally designed for flight applications. Prepar3D is the first product launch from that agreement.

At its booth at ITEC, Lockheed Martin demonstrated potential uses of Prepar3D, which can add air and ground vehicles to a trainer or exercise at relatively low cost. Software engineers built a simulation based on Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for demonstration at the show and completed it from scratch in less than a day, said Douglas Greenlaw, Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support vice president of business development and advanced programs.

“This is about delivering the 80 percent solution now,” Greenlaw said. “We are showing a military adaptation of commercial technology with an F-16 and an air base and integrating some interesting technologies for a much higher realization of terrain.

“Where we are focused is on applying that flight-training software to ground an maritime applications so you have a low-cost, relatively high-fidelity trainer across a much broader training environment.

“This industry is bad at reuse, but this shows what you can achieve,” Greenlaw said.

Lockheed says it has integrated this software with the Warsim constructive simulation in its laboratory.