Inzpire delivers modernised training scenarios to FOST

The scenario has been designed to support varying levels of complexity for different training audiences in several locations: from patrol vessels through to aircraft carriers.

In order to modernise the scenario, Inzpire’s maritime training experts – many of whom have recent operational RN experience – conducted an extensive phase of face-to-face consultancy sessions to truly understand the operator perspective and to capture real-world feedback from unit to 2* organisation level.

This consultancy phase included a four-day intensive ‘sprint,’ which set out to understand the FOST team’s experience and ambitions for the scenario development. In addition, Inzpire personnel engaged with almost twenty frontline defence stakeholders from across the RN and MOD. This approach resulted in over 300 data points and overwhelming evidence themes supporting the case to modernise the existing scenario. 

Two detailed working groups were also conducted with the FOST team to incorporate feedback and refine the documents in line with customer demands.

The result is an immersive and realistic training scenario which will allow FOST to better train warships to conduct high-end, task-group-centred warfighting as a principal warfare commander, against a peer or near peer adversary.

The new, modernised scenario means FOST will be able to challenge its training audiences – including UK, NATO, and multi-national warships – in a more diverse and demanding manner, across the full spectrum of constant competition, crisis, and conflict.

However, the modernised scenario extends far beyond just maritime training: Inzpire’s Maritime Division was able to draw on wider subject matter expertise from the company’s cyber and space divisions, as well Inzpire teams embedded within 92 Sqn and the Air and Space Warfare Centre to produce realistic scenario hooks in non-maritime domains.

Head of Inzpire Maritime Division Nick Borbone, said: “It is a genuine privilege to be chosen to support FOST in supplying modern, credible, and realistic scenarios and OSW to help train RN, NATO and international warships today and into the future.

“This work has been widely welcomed by all RN and defence stakeholders. I am proud of the Inzpire team, who delivered the work on time and on budget against a tight timeline.”

Captain Andrew Canale MVO RN, Captain FOST (Ships), said: “This change is long overdue. I am pleased with the way my team in FOST (Ships) combined with Inzpire to develop a new, modern, and contemporary strategic exercise scenario that better reflects the world we live in today, and prepares our ships and those of our international partners for the operational challenges of tomorrow. This work has been a significant undertaking, conducted over several months and to an excellent standard.”

This scenario modernisation project is the latest in a long line of maritime projects which Inzpire has supported the RN and wider defence stakeholders with. In the last twelve months, Inzpire has worked on the Platform Enabled Training Concept (PETC) distributed synthetic concept demonstration for The Carrier Strike Group; and Exercise Sharpshooter, which involved the firing of live ammunition from medium and close-range weapons against remote controlled surface vessels.

Inzpire and the Engineering Delivery Partnership (EDP)

Inzpire is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ, meaning they are able to seamlessly support customers through the Engineering Delivery Partnership and through their close working relationship with QinetiQ, and our aligned working practices.

This means they are able to drive efficient and effective contracting of output-based contracts through EDP, supporting their customer’s mission.

Inzpire’s Maritime Division

Inzpire’s maritime experts work seamlessly alongside the company’s Collective Training Division and have designed and delivered over 300 live and synthetic exercises and provided operationally realistic training to over 10,000 frontline personnel.

Together, the QinetiQ and Inzpire teams have worked with the Royal Navy to support JTEPS Joint Warrior events, Fleet Operational Sea Training for Type 45 destroyer mission rehearsal and pre-deployment training for the UK Carrier Strike Group.