In preparation for deploying a common electronic warfare sensor suite across the future fleet, the Royal Australian Navy is expanding the use of simulation in training of future electronic warfare sailors.
A new contract, announced by the Australian minister for defence industry Christopher Pyne, will see Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems design and develop new maritime training systems.
“The contract valued at around $4.4 million will see the development of a tactical electronic warfare training system to provide tuition, assessment and qualification of electronic warfare practitioners across the full range of Navy ships, from a single facility ashore,” minister Pyne said.
Pyne further said the modernisation of training at the School of Maritime Warfare at HMAS Watson, in Sydney, would reduce the training burden on ships at sea and offers a consistent training continuum.
“Navy’s current training facilities are based on the equipment and systems in the Adelaide and Anzac class frigates, but as these systems develop, so too must the training. The enhanced training systems will be capable of generating scenarios that simulate physical and electronic attacks where control of the electromagnetic spectrum can neutralise those threats,” he said.
Minister Pyne said in a second win for Australian industry, Cirrus had also been awarded an international contract to develop a complex prototype Incident Training Application (ITA).
“If accepted for further development, the ITA would be used in the jointly developed AN-BYG-1 Submarine Tactical and Weapon Control System to enhance submarine crew training,” Pyne said.