The British Royal Navy is preparing for the future where its personnel will be facing new technologies. It chose the international defence company Elbit Systems to develop the training technologies for its Dreadnought-class submarines' future crew.
According to reports, British soldiers will receive the training solution before the submarine's deployment to ensure that the operations will be safe and competent.
Likewise, Elbit Systems London says that the selection of their company further expands their position as a provider of cutting-edge systems for the UK military's different branches. Aside from the training technology, Elbit Systems will also build and supervise a new test and reference facility for system testing and integration.
It is another challenge that Elbit Systems is eager to face. According to Martin Fausset, Elbit Systems' CEO, it would change the delivery of effective training and transformation programmes because they can employ their expert-level capability in synthetic training and its deployment.
What is a Dreadnought-class submarine?
The Dreadnought-class submarine is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. It will replace the Vanguard fleet when it starts service around the early 2030s. The Vanguard submarines entered the Royal Navy service in the 1990s and are expected to be in service for about 25 years. They need replacement so that the Royal Navy can maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent, which is the principle of operation they follow using the Trident (News - Alert) system.
The new submarine will measure 152 metres or 408 feet. It will become the Royal Navy's largest, most advanced and most powerful submarine. Moreover, it will be the first submarine in the UK with mixed female and male crew members.
The Dreadnought, designed and built in the UK, will provide thousands of jobs, boosting the British defence manufacturing industry. BAE Systems (News - Alert) Submarines will build the submarines at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, while Rolls-Royce will build the submarines' nuclear reactors.
The new training technology
Elbit Systems UK will be developing an integrated training solution using training aids and shore-based simulators for the Dreadnought Crew Training programme. The company will be part of the consortium led by Raytheon (News - Alert) UK, the primary contractor and systems integrator of the training project. The new Future Submarine School (FSS) in HMNB Faslane will handle the training programme, which will also be available in the other training facilities under the Royal Navy.
Elbit Systems will develop the new Combat Systems Operator Trainer that the new Royal Navy training schools will use. Moreover, they will modernise and manage the legacy synthetic training (combination of virtual and live training environments) systems currently offered in the training facilities. The updated and modernised legacy training systems and the training technologies from Elbit Systems will improve the Navy's Defence Operational Training Capability.
The contract will last for more than 12 years and is worth about £925M. The consortium will provide the Royal Navy with various processes, technologies, and training management systems, such as live on-the-ground training, training simulation technology, and digital learning. The team will likewise manage the Royal Navy's career advice services, learning hubs, IT infrastructure, decommissioning, and procurement of training equipment.
