News: Sub sim support signed | ADM July 2012
Thales
Australia
has signed a contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation to upgrade the
Collins Submarine Platform Training Simulator (PTS). Located at the Submarine
Training and Systems Centre (STSC) at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, the PTS
has been in service since 1993. Comprised of a Propulsion Control Simulator
(PCS) and a Submarine Control Simulator (SCS), the PTS plays a central role in
delivering individual and collective training across a number of critical submarine
systems, including the propulsion, manoeuvring, power conversion and distribution,
and auxiliary systems.
The
upgrade will incorporate improvements to the PTS to address obsolescence and
fidelity issues, bringing it up to date with the current configurations of the
actual submarines.
Beyond
the simulator, Thales is a major supplier to the Collins program. The company provides
and supports the sonar suite, towed array, periscope visual system, communications
mast and other key sensor support. Additionally, the company will also be
upgrading the periscope visual system under a recently-signed contract. Since
the program’s inception, Thales has accumulated extensive experience in
supporting the unique requirements of Australia’s submarine program, and
has a detailed understanding of potential enhancements in this area.
“As
the original supplier of the Collins PTS, Thales is able to carry out the
upgrade with minimal technical risk, leveraging our international experience
from similar submarine upgrade programs in the UK,”
Thales Australia
CEO Chris Jenkins said.
“The
PTS provides a significant volume of vital individual and collective training for
trainees and submarine crews,” Lieutenant Commander Andrei Ezergailis, the Royal
Australian Navy’s STSC Engineering Training Manager, said.