German Navy to receive training simulators from Rheinmetall

Düsseldorf-based technology corporation Rheinmetall has received a contract to supply training simulators to the German Navy.

As disclosed, the Bundeswehr has commissioned the company to provide a networked simulation-based operational training solution called Distributed Naval Training Architecture / Verteilte Trainingsarchitektur der Marine (VTAM).

Rheinmetall Electronic Solutions is supplying and taking into operation hardware and software modules at six German naval bases. The systems will be established in Wilhelmshaven, Rostock-Warnemünde, Bremerhaven, Eckernförde, Kiel, and Nordholz.

The solution is the first simulation of its kind to be introduced into the German Navy, simulating the interaction between the external and internal combat schemes of a warship (weapons deployment and damage control).

VTAM will make it possible to connect existing or future simulation systems and onshore facilities to the training architecture, thus ensuring participation in joint exercise scenarios.

In addition, the new system will enable the integration of corvettes and frigates at the bases in Rostock-Warnemünde and Wilhelmshaven so that crews on board can also take part in joint exercises.

The Distributed Training Center (DTC), which is based at the Naval Support Command in Wilhelmshaven, will coordinate and monitor the technical networking and training procedures in the future.

At the bases in Rostock-Warnemünde and Wilhelmshaven, mooring corvettes and frigates participating in exercises can be observed via radio and tactical data link components. Besides the simulation, other core elements include the integration of corvettes and frigates using radio systems for voice communication and tactical data links for exchanging situation awareness data. This enables the crews to participate in a networked virtual exercise using their onboard systems.

This will create a wide range of training and exercise options in the future, enabling crews of vessels, boats, and aviation units to be trained together in a virtual scenario, according to Rheinmetall.

The ‘total ship training’ solution is based on the Naval Mission Training Center, which Rheinmetall delivered to an export customer in 2023.

The company said that the order, worth a mid-double-digit million euros, was signed in December 2024 and booked in the same month.

The project, which began in January 2025, will run for four years.

In 2022, Rheinmetall was selected to supply eight MLG27-4.0 defense systems for the F126 frigates Damen Naval is building for the German Navy.