UK Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (UK CATT)

The Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) facility is a networked suite of simulators designed to replicate the interiors of armoured vehicles, for example, Challenger main battle tanks, Warrior armoured fighting vehicles and Scimitar light tanks. It will be used to train a variety of British Army personnel from the foot soldier, going into battle as an individual, through to the brigade commander, who could be responsible for hundreds of lives.

CATT will be the largest and most sophisticated virtual training facility in the world. The simulators will be housed in a building the size of two football pitches in Warminster, which, in turn, will be able to be linked in real-time to a sister facility being built in Germany. The CATT system will enable crews to be able to view a realistic computer-generated world through armoured vehicle periscopes and then fight a battle against a ‘virtual foe’, also generated by computer. Commanders plan and view the exercise from Battlegroup Headquarters simulators. To make the exercise as effective as possible the system has been made extremely realistic. For example, engines overheat if left idle for too long, repairs are needed if vehicles are damaged, and supplies have to be brought up if the battlegroup is to keep fighting. Mobile Infantry commanders can disembark from an armoured vehicle simulator and then climb into a linked ‘infantry’ simulator to continue the battle ‘on foot’, exactly as they would do in a live situation.

The ‘players’ in their simulators can fight against other ‘players’ in simulators or computer-generated forces. They can exercise within a site or between the UK and German sites. Following the exercise the whole ‘battle’ can be played back for post-exercise analysis. CATT will provide more effective training, as current simulators lack the complexities of a modern battlefield and only involve small parts of a battlegroup rather than a whole formation.

The benefits of the CATT system are numerous and include:

• Using the latest technology to keep front-line troops trained to the required high levels of operational effectiveness, reducing pressure on training land, the defence budget and the environment
• Being complementary to both army skills training and field training
• Providing a realistic level of manoeuvre and procedural training in an unconstrained virtual battlefield
• Allowing all arms of service (i.e. infantry and cavalry etc.) to train in the same environment
• Allowing better and more effective preparation for future training in the field
• Allowing unprecedented exercise control.

The main simulator hall measures approximately 120m x 45m and will house 70 combat vehicle simulators, 16 generic vehicle simulators, 12 dismounted infantry simulators, plus room for expansion. In addition, CATT can link to simulators on other sites.

The technology that is being incorporated into CATT represents the latest developments in areas such as high fidelity graphics, computer generated forces and high-speed networking.

Two training facilities are planned: one to be located in the UK (Warminster) and one in Germany (Sennelager). New buildings are under construction at both sites. The UK building is practically complete, while the German building was completed in October 2000. The Warminster facility is scheduled to be in service and ready for training by mid 2002, with Sennelager following a few months later.

Lockheed Martin Information Systems is the prime contractor and is wholly responsible for the UK system, including the building. This extends to equipment supply, installation and integration for the German system, but the building is the responsibility of the German Construction Agency.

Major sub-contractors are Alenia-Marconi, SAIC, CAE-Invertron, and for the UK building Amey. A recent sub-contract, managed by LMIS was Vehicle Specific Simulators (VSS) awarded to Alenia-Marconi.

The CATT system is based on a UK development of the US Army’s Close Combat Tactical Trainer. A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Defence Procurement Agency and US Department of Defense (DoD) underpins the CATT development and has enabled technology transfer arrangements advantageous to both MOD and DoD to be put in place. The MOU allows for future bilateral exchange of CATT-like developments between the UK and US programmes.

For further information on this product please contact Nick Mellor - Head of Land and Maritime Training, nick.mellor@lmco.com 

Links:

• Virtual Battlefield, real benefits (PDF)
• Signals Spring 2001 Article (PDF)