Royal Navy ships participate in collective simulation demo

HMS Queen Elizabeth was involved in a collective synthetic training demonstration orchestrated by BAE Systems, Inzpire, and QinetiQ. (BAE Systems)

The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as well as Type 23 frigate HMS Kent and Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond participated in a collective synthetic training demonstration against a peer adversary as part of Phase 2 of the RN's Platform Enabled Training Capability (PETC).

Conducted at HM Naval Base Portsmouth in June QinetiQ alongside BAE Systems and Inzpire connected all three platforms simultaneously via satellite communications to enable delivery of the synthetic training environment, according to a QinetiQ announcement on 4 September.

The trial, based on real-world geographies of the High North, involved simulating peer adversary platforms and weapon profiles to stimulate the ships' sensors. The three crews, situated in their respective control rooms, collectively responded to the presented threats to defend the aircraft carrier. The scenario integrated above water, surface, and underwater threat data – some of which were completely new to the ships' personnel.

For the trial, QinetiQ managed the overarching synthetic environment and delivered communications; Inzpire designed the scenario and delivered the white force and after-action review; and BAE Systems integrated the digital shadow of the combat management system.

PETC is part of the wider RN Maritime Operational Training Environment (MOTE) Spartan programme – previously Defence Operational Training Capability (Maritime) (DOTC[M]) – which will enable ships' crews to train together from their respective control rooms.

Held in February 2022 Phase 1 of PETC involved validating the use of the capability on a single platform, Kent .