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An advanced training simulator, that will be used to train the future Navy crew of Australia’s new Hobart Class destroyers, is up and running at the Maritime Skills Centre at Techport in South Australia.
The system - called the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) Training Simulator - is part of a suite of simulators and other technologies that will be used to train the future Royal Australian Navy crews of the new guided missile destroyers.
AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said it is great to see the first Hobart Class training system in place. “It is a leap forward in technology and is on a scale never seen before for Royal Australian Navy warships or submarines,” Mr Equid said.
The IPMS is the next generation of ship management systems which has a software application that allows for real-time digital control of the ship’s functions, such as propulsion, steering and damage control.
Course delivery has started for the AWD Alliance Test and Activation Group. Training for the first Navy crew for Ship 1 Hobart will start next year at the centre’s purpose-building training facility.
Training conducted this year will provide key members of the AWD Alliance with detailed information on the capability of the ship’s systems and develop the skills of the instructors prior to training future crew.
The IPMS Training Simulator uses a variety of operating systems, applications and software to allow trainees to simulate the experience of being onboard the ship and having control of the ship’s systems including propulsion, steering, electrical distribution, auxiliaries and damage control.
“The simulation training system will be used to train crew on how to operate the ship using consoles that will be located throughout the ship, including those located on the bridge.” Mr Equid said.
All future crew members will need IPMS training before going to sea onboard one of the three new destroyers being built for the Navy by the AWD Alliance.
Training is also underway in the United States for the AWD Alliance Integrated Test Team (ITT), industry and future Navy crews to operate and maintain the highly complex combat system – including the Aegis Weapon System and Aegis Combat System Elements. The training program is being delivered by the United States Navy through the Foreign Military Sales program and will continue over the next 18 months. More than 25 courses are being provided to a mix of Alliance and Navy personnel.
“The AWD Project is progressing with all Ship 1 hull blocks consolidated and work is now focussed on the next stage of systems integration including the load out of the combat system. It is exciting to also be turning our attention to training people on how to use the equipment and operate the ship,” Mr Equid said.
The Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) representing the Australian Government, ASC as the lead shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia as the mission systems integrator.