Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Virtual training system in service for 20 years

Defence

Virtual training system in service for 20 years

A suite of simulators which can immerse soldiers into a virtual battlefield to provide critical mission readiness training to British Army forces has so far trained over 125,000 troops over the past two decades.

Image courtesy DE&S

As armoured warfare has increased in lethality and intensity, it is ever more necessary for soldiers to be able to train and rehearse for varying threat scenarios.

The Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT), which is based at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster Wiltshire, and in Sennelager in Germany, can accommodate combined arms training for ground, air and logistics missions at the company, battle group and brigade levels.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The system, which is critical to preparing the British Army for operations, was commissioned by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) in 2002.

Twenty years on it continues to adapt to meet the ever-changing demands of contingency training.

Nick Taylor, Head of Soldier Training and Specialist Projects (STSP) at DE&S said: “It’s hard to believe that CATT has been in service for 20 years and yet is just as important and relevant to Army training today as it was on day one. When it went into service CATT was designed to provide battle group training in line with the cold war set up of forces in Europe. As the nature of conflict changed to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan so CATT changed – growing to become a key part of the mission specific training for operations Telic and Herrick.”

Delivered by Lockheed Martin, CATT can provide more than 15,000 training days a year and since it opened more than 125,000 troops have been trained.

Paul Livingston, Chief Executive Lockheed Martin UK said: “We’re proud of the role that Lockheed Martin plays in developing and delivering large scale military virtual training systems for the UK, supporting the British Army with combined arms tactical training capability for more than 125,000 troops over the past two decades and helping to provide the vital readiness to keep our country, and our allies safe.”

Each site covers an area the size of three football pitches and consists of over 200 networked simulators linked to create a combat area of over 10,000 square kilometres. It can accommodate over 400 warfighters with all arms support such as artillery, air and aviation training together as a coherent unit.

Colonel Simon Ridgway, Commander for the Command, Staff and Tactical Training Group, said: “The Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) has supported combined arms collective training within a simulated environment for commanders, staff and force elements at formation, battle group and sub unit level for 20 years.

"It has evolved in line with developments in technology in partnership with Lockheed Martin and continues to be a fantastic facility that prepares our people for operations, readiness and whatever His Majesty’s Governments asks of us. It’s a true honour to command this facility and all the hard working individuals (military, civil servants, contractors and locally employed civilians) within it.”

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

 

 

 

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Titan secures key accreditations

Aerospace Defence

Titan secures key accreditations

2 May 2025

Titan Manufacturing - based in Weymouth, Dorset - has achieved two significant accreditations that position the company as a trusted supplier for military and defence contracts.

UK-made RAF drones become operational

Defence

UK-made RAF drones become operational

2 May 2025

The Royal Air Force’s new UK made drones - known as StormShroud - came into operation today.

Arondite raises $12m to connect defence systems with AI

Defence

Arondite raises $12m to connect defence systems with AI

2 May 2025

British company Arondite - which is building AI to transform how defence organisations safely deliver 'human-machine' teaming at scale - has secured over $12 million in funding from leading global investors.

SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV

Defence

SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV

1 May 2025

British advanced maritime tech company SubSea Craft (SSC) has unveiled a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) capability, MARS, marking the company’s second product offering following the success of its VICTA diver delivery platform.

Advertisement
ODU RT
SEA secures contract with Thales to support Royal Navy ships

Defence

SEA secures contract with Thales to support Royal Navy ships

1 May 2025

SEA has secured a 15-year contract with Thales as part of the Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) programme.

Shipley UK and Kahootz partner to enhance opportunity capture

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Shipley UK and Kahootz partner to enhance opportunity capture

1 May 2025

Kahootz and Shipley UK have announced a strategic partnership to enhance opportunity capture and bid management capabilities.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025