Thomas Global Systems Australia has been awarded a M1A2 Immersive Tactical Trainers (ITT) contract by the Australian Army for approximately $60 million.
Head Land Systems, Major General Jason Blain, acknowledged the value of acquiring the simulators.
“The simulators proudly showcase Australian capability and innovation,” Major General Blain said.
“They can train an entire tank crew simultaneously, which optimises field training for soldiers, and can deliver major savings on fuel, ammunition and maintenance costs."
The M1A2 ITT is a main battle tank simulation capability, designed and built by Thomas Global Systems Australia, an Australian small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) headquartered in Newington, New South Wales.
“Thomas Global Systems Australia has given us the capability to simulate training in a 70-tonne main battle tank, almost anywhere in the world," Major general Blain stated.
The 16 new Australian simulators are training soldiers on their transition to the new M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. The M1A2 ITTs, which were developed locally, replicate the inside of a main battle tank, and are comparable to flight simulators in both sophistication and functionality, according to Defence.
“The M1A2 ITT is the world’s most advanced Abrams training system, providing Australian soldiers with the best possible preparation for the demands of modern armoured warfare,” CEO of Thomas Global Systems, Angus Hutchinson, said.
“The delivery of these systems marks a significant milestone in our partnership with the Australian Army, and we are honoured by the trust they have placed in us.”
The simulators will offer flexible training modes – either under the control of an on-board instructor, or through networked scenarios for collective training. The simulators will enable procedural gunnery and tactical training, scalable from individual crew training to tank squadron level.
Of the 16 simulators purchased by Defence through project Land 907, there are permanent classroom and containerised variants that are transportable by land, air or sea for use almost anywhere. They will be co-located with the M1A2 main battle tank users and their training schools.
The Australian Government’s LAND 907 Armoured Combat acquisition of 75 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 MBTs, the M1A2 ITT will provide soldiers with high-fidelity gunnery, tactical and driver training in an environment that closely mirrors real-world combat conditions.
According to Defence, courses on the new simulators have begun in training schools, with strong feedback from soldiers on the strength of the platform.
Thomas Global Systems Australia is a defence industry partner which has delivered multiple other simulation systems to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over the past decade.
Thomas Global Systems has now delivered all deployable variants of its M1A2 Abrams Systems Enhancement Package version 3 (SEPv3) Immersive Tactical Trainer (M1A2 ITT) to the Australian Army.
The M1A2 ITT will support the full training continuum — from individual crew roles to integrated team operations and networked scenarios — enabling soldiers to rehearse complex manoeuvres under instructor supervision.
Thomas Global Systems’ contract with the Commonwealth of Australia will include the delivery and sustainment of both classroom and containerised variants. The supply chain fir the contract includes Australian companies such as Global Defence Solutions, Rockpress, Systematiq, Thales Australia, and others.