Newcastle based training technology company VRAI have won a pathfinder contract from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to develop a data driven tactical simulator for the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS), which is based in the 101 Royal Artillery Regiment in the North East of England.
The £288k pathfinder project, funded through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) 1st Customer fund, will provide the British Army with an initial MRLS Tactical Capability Trainer capable of collecting user performance data from a simulated MLRS cab, in order to improve crew performance, while reducing the cost and carbon footprint of training.
Major Paul Spencer of the 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery commented on the project saying: “It has been really rewarding to work with local companies to deliver innovative solutions for our troops. The MLRS Tactical Capability Trainer (Pathfinder) system will work as a fully immersive simulator that will allow the MLRS detachments to conduct all their drills in a tactical environment. The ability for MLRS detachments to conduct realistic training in their base location will be a significant uplift in capability.”
Speaking on the announcement, Niall Campion, VRAI Managing Director for Customer & Product said: “ We believe that data is the untapped resource in simulation training and have developed HEAT to turn this resource into actionable insights. We are very excited to be able to bring this pioneering technology, developed with the assistance of DASA funding, to our neighbours in the 101 Royal Artillery Regiment. By starting to capture structured training data the British Army are starting the process of unlocking the insights contained within it, providing the opportunity to develop smart, adaptive, AI powered technology in the future.”
VRAI’s mission is to redefine exceptional human performance through better training, unlocking every individual’s full potential in order to help save lives. VRAI has developed an industry leading product called HEAT that integrates with simulators of all kinds to provide an analytics layer that delivers actionable insights into human performance.
“The Geordie and West Riding Gunners” are the Royal Artillery’s Army Reserve unit in the North East of England, and the only Army Reserve unit to hold, maintain and train on the armored tracked M270, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The MLRS is the British Army’s main ‘precision fire’ weapon system, able to engage targets at long ranges with extreme accuracy
Anita Friend, Head of DASA said: “VRAI’s innovative simulation training system will help empower British Army MLRS detachments to engage in realistic training and gather data to maximise crew performance. DASA is thrilled to see the implementation of VRAI’s technology by end users, made possible through the DASA 1st Customer Fund, which enables defence to purchase pre-production prototypes from SMEs.”
The initial pathfinder project will see VRAI’s industry leading HEAT product being combined with an existing MRLS simulator to develop actionable insight into crew performance based on data gathered during simulated tactical training.