MoD to buy billion-pound simulator for armoured corps

Following on from yesterday's planned reductions to Britain's tank force, the MoD has announced that it plans to buy a new £1 billion training programme for the armoured corps.

Up to 380 jobs will be created – and 300 sustained – through the new Armoured Vehicles Training Service (AVTS) which is designed to cut the impact of military training on the environment and save money by using simulators to bring troops on gunnery and driving courses off the roads and ranges.

The MoD anticipates that the billion-pound PFI deal will save around £400 million in training costs over the next 30 years.

The new service for driver, gunnery and communications training on tanks and other armoured vehicles should involve 12,000 soldiers a year.

Under the PFI deal, the Landmark Training consortium has been chosen as the intended preferred bidder to provide the AVTS at Bovington, Dorset, and at other garrisons in the UK and Germany - as well as for forces on operations when required.

Lord Bach, Minister for Defence Procurement, said that AVTS would provide a "world-class training service and will help the crews of our armoured fighting vehicles to maintain the battle-winning professionalism they displayed recently in Iraq".

He added: "AVTS will exploit new technologies and provide a flexible service that will strengthen our Armoured Forces' ability to meet the challenges of the future. This is central to the objectives outlined in yesterday's White Paper."

AVTS encompasses 14 vehicle types including Challenger 2 tanks and Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Flexibility of the service will allow it to incorporate new vehicles, such as the Terrier Armoured Engineer Vehicle, as they come into service, should this prove value for money.

Contract signature is expected in 2005, and the system is expected to enter service in 2007.

(gmcg)