Filters for UK MoD turret crew training simulator

The simulators facilitate the training of turret crews on the British Army’s new multi-role family of medium armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) designed to be the medium weight core of the British Army’s deployable Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.

The primary role of these platforms is to provide accurate and timely information to support decision making at all levels, providing commanders with a survivable and capable Ground Mounted Manned Reconnaissance (GMMR) platform, which gives them the flexibility to perform a range of roles across the spectrum of conflict.

This is in support of a contract received by Lockheed Martin from General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, who are responsible for delivery of the simulator capability and service contract to the UK Ministry of Defence.

There are three variants of the training simulator:

• The Crew Turret Trainer (CTT), which provides a high-fidelity replica of the turret, complete with controls and high-definition imaging.
• The Appended Trainer (AT), which incorporates a full computing facility, generating the imagery for injection into an actual turret and giving students the ability to train inside their own vehicle.
• The Performance After Action Review (PAAR) module, which provides facilities for trainers to completely re-run the exercise and further develop students’ skills.

Integral to each simulator shelter variant are customised EMP filters designed and manufactured by MPE.

Following extensive engagement and testing with Marshall during the design stage, MPE developed two 63A three-phase custom filters. These custom filters are designed to ensure EMP integrity and protection for each simulator shelter.

Marshall delivered the first batch of shelters, used to prove the system capability, and MPE manufactured and supplied 26 custom filters to support this.

The follow-on units were delivered over the next 12 months, giving the British Army the freedom to move them to wherever they were required, rather than having to bring troops to fixed locations. MPE manufactured filters throughout this period to support this delivery phase.

This is the second contract that Marshall has won for training systems, having also been selected to provide cabins for the driver training simulators.