Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • MASS delivers concurrent military training exercises

Defence Events

MASS delivers concurrent military training exercises

A Joint Warfare Support Team led by Cohort company MASS has delivered two key Joint Forces Command training events at HQ British Forces Cyprus and at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall.

Exercise Joint Horizon 18 (JH18) and Joint Venture 18 (JV18) were two separate, yet interlinked, exercises running concurrently. 

The main aim for JH18 was to train the UK Joint Force HQ in smaller-scale operations, while the aim of JV18 was to exercise the Standing Joint Forces HQ (SJFHQ) over a number of other, wider, training objectives that would be explored during the planning and execution of the two events. Both exercises comprised military personnel and a range of other governmental and non-governmental organisations and partner nations to help develop a pan-governmental/coalition approach to each task.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Planning began ten months ago with MASS working under Joint Warfare (JW) direction, developing a robust fictitious scenario able to meet the differing requirements of the two HQs.  Scenario development involved creating fictional countries including all the supporting geographic, environmental, demographic detail and challenges that a ‘real’ military operation might encounter.

This level of detail allowed both training audiences to exercise in a deployed setting and, equally importantly, practise joint planning and execution throughout the exercise development process, as the scenario had been crafted, at operational level, to explore and test command and control related interactions.  The event was also designed to look at the expanding range of challenges a modern force might encounter in an increasing complex and diverse information-driven environment.

Supporting two testing and distributed exercises was a new challenge for both Joint Warfare and for MASS; throughout the events many previous lessons were reinforced and new ones identified.  Working with JW, MASS’ support included a range of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from senior military and diplomatic staffs to offer focused advice as members of the ‘Grey Cell’ at the operational level in order to achieve maximum training value for both training audiences.  The ‘Grey Cell’ was acknowledged by all participants as ‘the best seen in recent exercises’. 

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle

MASS also provided simulation support to replicate forces deployed on the exercise including events management as well as real-life management support at both locations.  While the results are still being analysed, the initial feedback is that both events provided excellent training to help shape and inform current and future thinking for both headquarters.

 MASS’ expertise in supporting military training exercises was also demonstrated in the recent Exercise JOINT WARRIOR. The two-week exercise took place in the UK and was one of the Europe’s largest military exercises. The exercise was designed to provide NATO allies and partner nations an opportunity to train together across air, land, sea and cyber domains.  In the build up to the exercise, MASS’ team assisted the Royal Navy JTEPS team by drafting the Road to Crisis (in two parts) and supporting documents to create the complex scenario required to set the scene prior to the exercise.  During the execution phase, a scripter from MASS supported the Exercise Control producing daily the geopolitical input necessary to provide a realistic ‘wrap’ to the exercise training audience.
 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
Serco appoints Michael LaRouche as CEO of North American division

Defence

Serco appoints Michael LaRouche as CEO of North American division

9 October 2025

Serco has appointed Michael LaRouche as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Serco’s North American division effective 1st October 2025.

IBM to deliver DEEAMS

Defence

IBM to deliver DEEAMS

9 October 2025

The UK’s Armed Forces will be strengthened by a new cutting-edge Defence Equipment Engineering Asset Management Systems (DEEAMS) platform, which will transform how the military manages and maintains its equipment, driving efficiency and generating over 100 highly-skilled jobs.

Teledyne Microwave UK launches Deimos R-ESM

Defence

Teledyne Microwave UK launches Deimos R-ESM

9 October 2025

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Teledyne Microwave UK has launched Deimos 'Backpack' R-ESM​, the latest addition to its Phobos Radar Electronic Support Measures (R-ESM) family.

BAE Systems signs with Rheinmetall for CV90120 advanced gun upgrade

Defence

BAE Systems signs with Rheinmetall for CV90120 advanced gun upgrade

9 October 2025

BAE Systems Hägglunds is teaming up with Rheinmetall Weapon and Ammunition to integrate the 120mm L44A1 Low Recoil (LR) weapon system onto the latest CV90120 vehicle, leveraging their capabilities to deliver a tailored solution to meet the evolving demands of the battlefield.

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle
RTX and Anduril complete advanced solid rocket motor test

Defence

RTX and Anduril complete advanced solid rocket motor test

8 October 2025

RTX's Raytheon and Anduril have successfully conducted a static fire test of an advanced solid rocket motor under a contract with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate.

World-first research project launched in Plymouth

Defence Security

World-first research project launched in Plymouth

7 October 2025

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), located in Taunton and Marine AI, a Plymouth-based provider of maritime autonomy software, have this month launched a world-first research programme to enable Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) to read, interpret and act upon official navigational information once only usable by human mariners.

Advertisement
ODU RT