Navy sinks £100m into battleship combat training system

The Royal Navy is spending £100m on a computerised training system to prepare sailors serving on aircraft carriers and destroyers for combat.

The contract covers procurement and 10-year support and operation of the Maritime Composite Training System Phase One, which will be used to train sailors serving on Invincible class carriers, Type 45 and 42 destroyers, and Type 23 frigates.

A £100m contract signed with BAE Systems Insyte will see a consortium creating new facilities in Devonport Naval Base, and the shore base HMS Collingwood near Portsmouth, in time to be ready to train Type 45 crew later this decade.

Defence procurement minister Lord Drayson said in a statement: "We've contracted for a very sophisticated system which can replicate the combat command systems used across most of our major surface warships, including the aircraft carriers, as well as the new Type 45 destroyers now under construction."

He added: "This investment means men and women who 'fight the ship' in computerised command centres will be better prepared for combat and emergencies."

Drayson said the system is specifically designed for easy upgrade and technology improvement, and is expected to remain in service past 2040.

Prime contractor BAE Systems Insyte has formed the Seabridge consortium, which is composed of Aerosystems International, EDS, MDA and Serco. The Seabridge consortium will be supported by Flagship Training Limited.