MOD to award £80m for Area Weapons Effect Simulation

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to award a £80 million contract to Cubic Defence UK (CDUK) for the continued support and enhancement of its Instrumented Live Training – Area Weapons Effect Simulation (ILT-A) system.

The contract, managed by the Training Simulation Systems Programme within Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), will provide Contractor Logistic Support (CLS), repair, and Post Design Services (PDS) for the MOD-owned ILT-A system over a two-year period, with options for up to three additional years.

ILT-A is a critical training system that simulates and records the effects of area weapons, such as fire missions, minefields, and indirect attacks, allowing for realistic and immersive battlefield training. The system enables:

• Tracking and monitoring of personnel (dismounted, in vehicles, and in structures).
• Man-worn and vehicle instrumentation for weapon engagements.
• Simulation of battlefield effects, ensuring a challenging and dynamic training environment.
• Integration with Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises (CALFEX) and future vehicle-mounted simulations.

ILT-A is particularly valuable in collective training, offering a real-time engagement system that enhances operational readiness across multiple environments.

Under the agreement, CDUK will maintain, repair, and develop the ILT-A system, with potential upgrades including:

• New instrumentation to support Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises (CALFEX).
• Vehicle integration, expanding the system’s applicability to a broader range of training scenarios.
• Possible expansion into currently undefined training areas globally.

The contract includes a two-year core period, with the MOD having the option to extend for three additional one-year terms. If all options are exercised, the total contract value will reach £80 million. However, if no extensions are enacted, the contract’s value would be £50 million.

Why CDUK?

Cubic Defence UK was awarded the contract under Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, which permits direct awards for technical reasons.

• CDUK is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for ILT-A, holding exclusive access to the technical data, source code, and design schematics.
• They are the only supplier with the expertise and experience required to provide Contractor Logistic Support (CLS), maintenance, and Post Design Services (PDS).
• ILT-A must integrate with the MOD’s Direct Fire Weapons Effect Simulator (ILT-D) to form a Tactical Effect Simulator (TES) – a fully integrated combat training system.
• CDUK is the only UK-based company authorised to handle ITAR-controlled information, a critical factor in maintaining operational security.

ILT-A is a key component of modern battlefield simulation, ensuring that UK forces remain combat-ready in realistic and high-pressure training environments. The continuation and potential expansion of this programme will provide UK personnel with state-of-the-art training, reinforcing operational effectiveness in complex combat scenarios.