22 June 22. Founded in 1986, Plexsys is an industry leader in modelling and simulation software development and in delivery of Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training readiness solutions and innovation. This is a company that is a 100% employee-owned small business with more than 200 full-time employees and part-time consultants in nine US states and four international countries including the UK and Australia.
Having recently spent some time with some of Plexsys Interface Products UK senior employees and all that I can say is that it is hardly difficult to see that this is a company with real passion for what it does and thrives to achieve and that is based on enabling better available military based training through delivery of solutions which enable live/synthetic blended training events and exercises.
PLEXSYS Interface Products UK Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PLEXSYS Interface Products, Inc. located at the Knowledge Centre, Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire. This is the headquarters building from which PLEXSYS conducts all UK & EMEA operations and business development.
Importantly, PLEXSYS UK has supported the Ministry of Defence in distributed multi-international exercises since 2009, particularly with the deployment of the Advanced Simulation Combat Operations Trainer (ASCOT) in the Air Battlespace Training Centre (ABTC). Initially designed to support the Distributed Sea Air Land Trainer (DSALT) programs, ASCOT was pivotal in providing the synthetic environment facilitating an extensive range of distributed exercises. ASCOT has been the ‘Computer Generated’ Force behind the Sentry E-3D Rear Crew Trainer (RCT), providing a robust virtual environment to conduct its multi-domain training requirements.
With the Wyboston, Bedford centre of excellence serving as the hub for the growth and operations in the UK and EMEA regions, PLEXSYS is able to provide customers with high fidelity training by matching Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training readiness requirements with innovative PLEXSYS products and world-class support. Other products, such as sonomarc, VADAAR, and SimVisuals2, have also been successfully deployed throughout the region, ensuring that all defence and non-defence customer ambitions can be realised. The company is also working on other potential UK MOD future requirements which in due course I will provide further detail.
Military training for pilots has and continues to evolve at a pace with services and solutions becoming ever-more digitally oriented. This morning Plexsys UK and Thales UK have announced the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with both companies looking to accelerate what can best be described here as ongoing evolution.
The MoU will enable both companies to collaborate closely in order to develop a unique set of complementary expertise, tools and capabilities that offer even more advanced integrated training and simulation solutions to MOD customers – particularly in the air domain, but also across land, sea, and space.
Plexsys’ Advanced Simulation Combat Operations Trainer (ASCOT) 7 offers a cutting-edge, dynamic and intuitive computer-generated forces (CGF) platform, simplifying the development of complex scenarios to create the most high-fidelity immersive background in today’s synthetic battle-space.
Combined with Thales UK’s own immersive digital simulation systems, AI, training, data capture, modelling, and integration expertise, the partnership will look to develop truly unique services and products that solve real-world challenges for today’s forward-thinking multi-domain Armed Forces.
By joining forces to compete for larger contracts, Thales in the UK and Plexsys are laying the foundations for a successful partnership. One that promises the highly advanced multi-domain solutions the MOD demands.
Daz Rawlins, MD of Thales Training and Simulation UK said “Like most good partnerships, this MoU is a great example of the sum being greater than the parts. Ultimately, it is about fostering an environment for real innovation across the multi-domain training ecosystem, so that we can develop the advanced solutions our customers need”.
Sanjay Khetia who as Director of Plexsys Interface Products UK and is recognised nationally and internationally as an authoritative expert within the field of modelling, simulation and training, said that “We are excited about the alliance between Thales and Plexsys, we’re well placed to provide high-fidelity training by matching Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training readiness requirements with innovative product and world-class support, ensuring that all our defence and non-defence customer ambitions are realised
The MoU with Plexsys is apparently the first step in a series of planned MoU’s that Thales UK intends to announce in the near future, as the company looks to expand its strategic partnerships with leading SMEs in operational analysis, digital twins, and next-generation operational training.
CHW (London 22nd June 2022)
Howard Wheeldon FRAeS
Wheeldon Strategic Advisory Ltd,
M: +44 7710 779785
Skype: chwheeldon
@AirSeaRescue