Belgian Air Force DART Challenge Case Study

Belgian Air Force DART Challenge case study: six live F-16s, four simulators, CRC controllers, constructive threats, Link 16, and three-site LVC training.

Live-Virtual-Constructive training connecting three locations—six live F-16s, four simulators, and constructive forces operating as one force.

Large Force Employment training demands coordinated missions with multiple aircraft, controllers, and complex threat environments.

But putting 10+ aircraft in the air simultaneously is expensive, constrained by airspace, and makes replicating advanced threats difficult. The Belgian Air Force needed a way to conduct realistic large-scale training with fewer live aircraft.

Florennes Air Base

4 F-16 tactical simulators

Kleine Brogel Air Base

Beauvechain

Control and Reporting Centre (CRC)

Belgian Airspace

Live F-16 aircraft

ArenaLogic F-16 Tactical Training Centers connected through Air Combat Arena

Up to eight simulators can be connected—four in Kleine Brogel, four in Florennes—integrated with live aircraft and CRC controllers.

DART Challenge

The Belgian Air Force conducted the DART Challenge to validate operational Live-Virtual-Constructive Training capability. Defence controllers and specialists trained together using realistic combat scenarios. In March 2025, DART Challenge 25 brought together six live F-16s, four ArenaLogic simulators at Florennes and Kleine Brogel, and the Control and Reporting Centre across three locations.

"LVCT enables large-scale missions to be carried out with a limited number of aircraft in the air and allows tactics against complex threats to be tested within a restricted airspace."

— Belgian Air Force

Live-Virtual-Constructive Integration

Live F-16s on Link 16 networks interact with pilots in simulators. Constructive forces add threat density. All participants experience one consistent tactical picture.

Multi-Site Connectivity

Simulators at Florennes and Kleine Brogel connect to the CRC at Beauvechain—networked training without relocating personnel or aircraft.

Constructive Opposition Forces

Constructive forces add extra targets for increased realism—threat aircraft with realistic tactics, SAM/AAA networks with engagement logic, customisable behaviours for training progression.

CRC Integration

Controllers participate using operational command and control systems, training with the same procedures used in real operations.

One Coherent Picture — Single authoritative view of the battlespace
Realistic Sensor Simulation — High-fidelity radar, EW, and targeting pod modelling
Link 16 Integration — Connect simulators with live aircraft and CRC
White Cell Mission Control — Exercise orchestration and visibility control
Multi-Site Operations — Networked training with resilient architecture

Built on ArenaLogic's proven Air Combat Training architecture

Delivering tactical training to allied air forces since 2008

International User Community

ArenaLogic F-16 Tactical Training Centers operate with allied air forces across six nations in Europe and South America. Lessons learned at any site benefit all users through shared development.

27 operational simulators for allied air forces since 2008

Scale Your Training Capacity

See how Live-Virtual-Constructive training can multiply your throughput without multiplying costs.