Elbit UK secures British Army deployable training contract

Some of Elbit Systems UK's training and simulation capabilities were demonstrated at the British Army's Advanced Warfare Experiment 21 (AWE 21). (Elbit Systems UK)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract for the Interim Combined Arms Virtual Simulation (Deployable) (ICAVS(D)) to Elbit Systems UK (ESUK), it was revealed on the Defence Contracts Online (DCO) website on 24 October 2021 and announced by the company on 5 November. The total potential value of the contract, if all options are exercised, is GBP57.4 million.

ICAVS(D) will replace the existing Unit-Based Virtual Trainer (UBVT) that is currently provided by QinetiQ, which also competed for the replacement. Martin Fausset, ESUK CEO, told Janes that ICAVS(D) is one of three pathfinder programmes in the British Army's Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP). It is meant to help develop the requirements for the Combined Arms Virtual Simulation (CAVS), which will replace the existing Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) and other systems.

The contract requires ESUK to demonstrate, implement, and provide a managed service over four years with two further option years, “capable of delivering individual, and platoon to company level (or service/arm equivalent) collective training across the UK and abroad”. Virtual training exercises will be provided at unit or other locations and will include an after-action review (AAR) capability.

According to the DCO announcement, ICAVS(D) will be used “to provide teams and junior commanders with a simple, effective computer-based training environment that enables them to carry out tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and command and control (C2), patrolling, counter-IED, ISTAR management and exploitation, and mission planning training in a realistic virtual environment”.