09 May 24. Royal Navy sails into the Metaverse with Virtual Reality training.
- New hi-tech Virtual Reality simulators installed by Royal Navy at bases in England and Scotland
- Cutting-edge technology used to train sailors for operations worldwide
- £27m investment delivered by consortium led by Capita in partnership with Metaverse VR
The Royal Navy is embracing Virtual Reality to train sailors guiding warships on operations worldwide.
Nine hi-tech bridge simulators – which accurately recreate both the bridge of present-day warships, but also the key waters and harbours they operate in – have been installed at sites in England and Scotland, led by the Navy’s warfare school at HMS Collingwood in Fareham.
The £27m investment, delivered by a consortium led by Capita, in partnership with Metaverse VR and serving Navy personnel, is intended to make learning navigation and running a bridge more realistic, more comprehensive, and potentially faster.
Five simulator suites have been installed at HMS Collingwood: two large ‘full mission’ simulators with wrap-around digital display screens and virtual reality headsets, a smaller version with an LCD display and finally two small trainers – more akin to a video gaming set-up, but with the same features/accuracy as their full-size counterparts.
Each one is named after a famed Royal Navy navigator: Ross (Arctic/Antarctic explorer), Parry (early 19th Century Arctic explorer), Bligh (of the Bounty), Fitzroy (father of the Met Office), and Flinders (the first person to circumnavigate/chart Australia).
Virtual reality plays only a relatively small role in the two theatre-size simulators. Sailors put on headsets on the mock-up bridge wing – and suddenly they are immersed in a 3D world.
Peer over the ‘side’ and you look down on the waves crashing against the hull, look aft (backwards) and the rest of the ship magically appears.
It’s particularly useful for situational awareness, especially when manoeuvring a ship in narrow waters, resupplying at sea or bringing a vessel alongside a jetty or quay.
The Royal Navy has been using digital bridge simulators for training for nearly 30 years. The existing sims were installed in Collingwood in 2002 and though the software has been upgraded since, this is the first true ‘reboot’ in two decades.
Trainee warfare officer Sub Lieutenant Stephen Smallman, aged 28 from Plymouth, began learning his bridge skills on the old simulator – and will complete his training on the new facility.
He said: “The old simulator was good, but you knew you were in a room with some screens. Here, you feel like you are stepping onto the bridge of a warship. It is very easy to become immersed in the situation – it makes everything feel much more real.
“Because you can change the weather conditions, you can practise some very challenging manoeuvres without the real-world consequences.
“It’s second-to-none, invaluable and it’s great to see the Navy investing in us and our training so we can do our job to the highest standard.”
And while the realistic hydrodynamic modelling and 3D/Virtual Reality visuals may grab the attention and immerse students in a digital maritime world, it’s other features which will really assist instructors and those being instructed alike: like dashcam footage from your car, training scenarios can be re-played and analysed.
“The new simulators are fantastic and the debriefing – allowing to accurately run through what’s just happened – is a game-changer when it comes to training navigators and bridge teams,” said Lieutenant Commander Gavin Lowe, Officer in Charge of the Navigational Training Unit, who was also among the first trainees to go through the first generation simulators two decades ago.
“These are very realistic simulators. The more realistic the environment, the better the training we deliver. The Virtual Reality headsets allow us to ‘step onto’ a bridge wing. You can look all along the ship from bow to stern which is fantastic for training complex ship handling manoeuvres such as entering and leaving port.”
Two simulators apiece have also been installed at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth for future officers and to train submariners in particular at Faslane.
They can be used not just by personnel under training but any ship’s team which feels it would benefit from more navigational/bridge time.
“After 33 years of service in the Royal Marines, my commitment to the ongoing success of this partnership with the Navy is personal,” said David Hook, managing director at Capita Defence.
“I am proud that Capita has delivered state-of-the-art navigation simulators to the Navy at pace, using an agile, collaborative approach that demonstrates a step change in training technology and delivery.
“We were able to deliver this capability in under 14 months, to cost, without disruption to current training. The simulators are an example of technology-enabled training facilities that will be a central part of the training transformation we are embedding in training.”
There’s also considerable potential offered by upgrades, from additional ports and harbours to increase the databank of current recreations of waters the Royal Navy uses daily – Portsmouth, Plymouth, the Clyde, Portland and Gibraltar – to adding new ships (Type 26/31 frigates), tidal streams and linking the simulators at the different sites to train the bridge teams of entire task groups.
Additional quotes
Commodore Jo Deakin, Deputy Director People – Training, said:
“The Royal Navy is investing heavily and transforming to deliver a digitally enabled, learner-centric training experience for sailors and marines. The new warship simulator capability delivers a huge leap in technology and significantly enhances the tools available to our trainers. The simulators will positively impact everyone across the Royal Navy, even if they do not directly experience them. They are a key component of delivering a Global, Modern, Ready Royal Navy.”
Toby Everitt, CEO, Metaverse VR said:
“We are proud to play a key role in elevating the Royal Navy’s ability to train their people in an advanced and innovative way. Bridge crew training is an essential phase for operational readiness, and a simulated approach demonstrates the best use of technological advantage.
“We are delighted to continue to support Team Fisher to enable safer and more efficient training as a means to ensure the Royal Navy maximises training capacity.”
Team Fisher is a Capita-led consortium, which includes Raytheon UK, Elbit Systems UK, Fujitsu, the University of Lincoln and several smaller British suppliers,
Team Fisher is combining a range of sophisticated technologies, processes and training management systems to fulfil the 12-year Royal Navy shore-based training contract. It is:
- Reviewing and modernising all training courses and providing accompanying analytics to ensure training methods best meet the Royal Navy’s needs.
- Running live on-the-ground training, and developing and deploying new methods, including digital learning and training simulation technology.
- Managing all the associated Royal Navy training equipment including procurement and decommissioning.
- Providing data through performance dashboards for Royal Navy management and managing IT infrastructure.
- Improving accreditation and apprenticeship management and running Royal Navy learning and development hubs and career advice services.
- Marketing Royal Navy courses to the wider international defence market and identifying further revenue opportunities for the service.
- Delivering a truly collaborative approach with the Royal Navy.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 May 24. Leonardo, Textron tout M-346 as ‘no drama’ option for navy’s next jet trainer. Leonardo has teamed with Textron Aviation Defense to offer its M-346 jet trainer for the US Navy’s (USN’s) Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) programme. The service’s current jet trainer, the T-45 Goshawk, entered service in 1991 and has experienced numerous technical issues in recent years. In September 2023 the USN released a request for information for the UJTS. Textron Aviation Defense will serve as the prime contractor for the project, Tommaso Pani, senior vice-president for marketing and strategic campaigns – Leonardo Aircraft Division, told Janes during the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2024 global maritime exposition in National Harbor, Maryland, in April. (Source: Janes)
06 May 24. South Korean ministry plans single-seat FA-50 investment. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has announced a plan to fund the development of the single-seat version of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 light trainer and attack aircraft. The ministry said on 3 May that KRW49.4 bn (USD36.39 m) will be invested with KAI to develop the single-seat version. The project aims to improve the FA-50’s ability to compete in the international market and expand the national “export portfolio”, according to the ministry.
“This development project intended to modify the single-seat airframe and include an auxiliary fuel system to increase operational radius by up to 30%,” MOTIE said.
Janes has previously reported on KAI’s plan to develop the single-seat variant by removing the second pilot and cockpit and installing a 300 gal auxiliary fuel system in that space. In February 2023 during the Singapore Airshow, a KAI spokesperson told Janes that the aircraft’s operational range could potentially be increased to as much as 20% as a result. (Source: Janes)
06 May 24. Maxar Intelligence and Lockheed Martin Expand Partnership to Enhance the F-35 Full Mission Simulator Experience. Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence, announced today a long-term agreement with Lockheed Martin to streamline the procurement and delivery of Maxar’s geospatial products for the F-35 Full Mission Simulator (FMS) flight simulation and training system.
Maxar’s industry-leading 2D and 3D products serve as the geospatial foundation for the FMS, which provides a realistic representation of real-world operating environments to enhance pilot training and mission rehearsal. The new agreement establishes standardized pricing, licensing, and requirements for several Maxar products, including Dynamic basemaps and Precision3D, enabling F-35 customers to begin training and mission preparedness operations faster.
“Maxar Intelligence is excited to expand on our long-standing partnership with Lockheed Martin and further improve the F-35 Full Mission Simulator experience, which represents an industry gold standard for immersive training and mission readiness support,” said Susanne Hake, General Manager, U.S. Government, Maxar Intelligence. “Maxar’s geospatial products, particularly Precision3D, are critical to the success of this system. They enable the highly accurate, precise simulated real-world environments that are brought to life in the FMS, creating an immersive experience that helps improve pilot safety and enhance mission success.”
Maxar’s Precision3D Data Suite provides highly accurate and detailed 3D models of Earth with 50-centimeter resolution and absolute accuracy of 3 meters in all dimensions. The accuracy is achieved without ground control and is consistent on all surfaces and terrain types, including building facades. Precision3D provides a precise, true representation of Earth that not only reflects the terrain in all dimensions but also provides an accurate foundation for additional data sources through Precision3D Registration (P3DR™) georegistration.
In addition to Precision3D, the agreement covers Maxar’s Dynamic imagery basemaps, which utilize the latest innovations in mosaicking, color balancing and image processing to produce high-resolution, high-accuracy image layers configured to meet specific customer requirements. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 May 24. US, UAE, and Saudi forces begin Exercise Native Fury 2024.
The multi-domain training is facilitated by the US Army’s 1st Theater Sustainment Command.
Armed forces from the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have launched Exercise Native Fury 2024 (NF24) at the Saudi Naval Port.
The multi-domain training is facilitated by the US Army’s 1st Theater Sustainment Command (1 TSC).
It commenced on 5 May and marks the eighth iteration of the Native Fury series.
The primary goal of Exercise Native Fury is to strengthen the planning and execution of complex and realistic operations across multiple domains.
NF24 is conducted to enhance the interoperability of military forces and demonstrate the collective ability of the partner nations forces to conduct complex operations.
Some of these operations include long-distance convoys, urban combat training, on-load and off-load operations leveraging commercial maritime shipping, along with other training missions in UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The exercise will utilise strategic locations across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, mainly including the Prince Sultan Air Base, a Saudi port facility on the Red Sea, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Prince Sultan Air Base, and a UAE port facility on the Gulf of Oman.
More than 600 US Marines, sailors, soldiers, and airmen from various units are participating in NF24, alongside their Saudi and UAE counterparts.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) media release, NF24 is part of a broader set of CENTCOM-sponsored exercises in the region, including Exercise Indigo Defender, Exercise Eager Lion, and Exercise Iron Union.
This simultaneous execution of multiple exercises aims to showcase USCENTCOM’s ability to project power and conduct advanced training with partner countries across the region.
In addition, the exercise highlights the use of the Trans-Arabian Network (TAN), which spans ten nations on the Arabian Peninsula and facilitates the movement of equipment and personnel. (Source: army-technology.com)
06 May 24. Hadean, the spatial computing company, has been awarded The King’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation. The King’s Award for Enterprise – now in its 58th year – is the most prestigious award for UK businesses and recognises those that have demonstrated outstanding innovation in their field.
Hadean has received this award for the creation of its transformative AI-powered spatial computing platform, which layers immersive web applications, data, and artificial intelligence to bridge physical and virtual worlds for training, decision support, and massively scalable virtual environments.
To date, Hadean has partnered with companies including Epic Games, Microsoft, Minecraft, Sony, The Francis Crick Institute. Hadean is also trusted by defence and aerospace leaders, including BAE Systems, the UK Ministry of Defence, DXC Technology, the British Army, and ST Engineering.
Craig Beddis, Co-Founder and CEO of Hadean, said: “Since 2015, Hadean’s mission has been to bridge physical and virtual worlds, because we believe that the next version of the internet will be 3D and immersive. Winning this award is testament to the vision and continued drive of the team who are committed to harnessing our technology to solve the most complex problems. Receiving the highest business honour in the UK, while we are engaging with defence industry leaders here in the US makes this recognition even more special.”
This year, Hadean has received continued recognition as it builds on solid foundations in the UK out into the US market. The team is currently accompanying the Department of Defence and Security Exports to Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week in Tampa, Florida. In March, Hadean accompanied the UK Department of Business and Trade on its mission to SXSW in Austin, Texas. Later that month, Hadean was ranked by FT-backed publication as one of the fastest growing start-ups in the UK. Next, Hadean will join London and Partners’ Grow London Global Programme for its Creative Tech Trade Mission in Los Angeles.
03 May 24. Australia, Japan and the US commit to trilateral F-35 fighter training. The meeting also addressed broader regional security issues.
Defence ministers for Japan, Australia, and the US have committed to F-35 joint fighter training during the Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting held in Hawaii on May 2, 2024.
The ministers highlighted plans for further F-35 joint training in 2025 and 2026, marking a significant step in increasing operational collaboration and defence preparedness. This includes utilising facilities in Australia and expanding engagement in complex air and missile defence exercises.
The ministers reviewed the progress made since the 2023 Joint Statement, focusing on practical areas of cooperation and activities that enhance the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. They emphasised the alignment of strategic interests among the three nations and reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Key developments include the implementation of the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in August 2023, which facilitated inaugural reciprocal deployments of Japan’s F-35A aircraft to Australia and vice versa. This agreement enhances interoperability and deepens defence ties among the three nations by allowing more streamlined defence force deployments across each other’s territories.
The ministers signed a trilateral Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Projects Arrangement during the meeting, underscoring a deepened commitment to technological innovation and cooperation. This arrangement enables the defence organisations from the three countries to collaboratively pursue operationally-relevant advancements in combat aircraft technologies, autonomous systems, and composite aerospace materials.
The meeting addressed broader regional security issues, including opposition to unilateral actions by China in the South and East China Seas and concerns over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and missile launches. The ministers condemned these destabilising actions and reiterated their support for international law and regional sovereignty.
This trilateral meeting is part of a continuing trend of increased military collaboration and strategic planning among Japan, Australia, and the US, Japan has a long history of establishing multilateral defence partnerships with the US and other nations, reflecting its desire to refresh and renew US interest in the region. (Source: airforce-technology.com)