Tel Aviv: Elbit Systems UK has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) to provide, maintain and operate the Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer system (GMST) for the Boxer armoured vehicles and Challenger 3 tanks under the British Army’s Project Vulcan.
The initial phase of delivery of Elbit Systems UK’s systems will support the first arrivals of the British Army’s new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle – Boxer. The initial capability provided by Elbit Systems UK will provide a comprehensive Platform Trainer, delivering both collective and individual training requirements.
The programme will include high fidelity driver trainers and cabins for turret and armament variants backed up by a full digital, training management system.
Elbit Systems UK’s open architecture and common digital systems support the delivery of an agile, interchangeable platform capability. The simulators will be networked to allow soldiers to train simultaneously in different formations, vehicles and locations. It can also be adapted to meet the training needs of all future armoured vehicles for the Army.
The contract will directly create and sustain jobs across a number of sites in the UK, within existing Elbit Systems UK facilities, a UK supply chain and on Army locations. This adds to recent investments made in staff and facilities to support the continued delivery of a number of high-tech programmes for the Armed Forces.
Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK said, “Elbit Systems UK is delighted to have been selected to provide the British Army with such an important project. The training of armoured vehicle crews is paramount to their operational effectiveness and safety, and we take great pride in the trust the UK MoD have placed in us to deliver this contract. Elbit Systems’ innovative training capabilities are already deployed extensively across the globe. We pride ourselves on being able to use our extensive British footprint and supply chain to adapt Elbit Systems’ global solutions for the specific needs of UK Armed Forces. Through our focus on spiral development and open architecture we will continue to develop advanced capabilities to support the UK and our Allies in the years ahead.”
Elbit is among other things a specialist in training systems for air and ground forces. The most famous such site is the main simulation centre used by the Israeli air force.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
