French Army commissions Thales' commander training system

5 December 2013 army-technology.com

The French Army has inducted Thales-built new-generation commander training system into its service during a ceremony at Mailly-le-Camp in France.

Ordered by the French defence procurement agency (DGA), the OPOSIA system is currently deployed at the army's CENTAC combat training centre in Mailly-le-Camp, to train combined-arms task forces.

A latest addition to Thales' individual, collective, command-level and live training systems suite, the OPOSIA system is designed to instruct and train commanders of company-level combined-arms task forces, as well as section and platoon leaders.

Specifically, the system can train up to 45 personnel, including three digitised task force commanders, along with their subordinates, including section and platoon leaders and leaders of support units, such as engineering, artillery and logistics in a virtual theatre of operations.

The system uses Thales-built tactical simulation software to immerse trainees in a highly-realistic virtual 3D universe, comprising terrain features, weather conditions, weapon systems, allied and opposing force deployment doctrines.

In addition, the system, which can be coupled with the "live" training on the CENTAURE system, supplied by Thales under a separate contract with DGA, enables personnel to use their own operational communication and information systems to add more realism to the exercises.

Apart from reproducing current training and deployment areas, the system also features support tools to facilitate rapid uploading of other terrains, thereby ensuring consistency with evolving operational requirements.

The OPOSIA system represents a key component in the army personnel training that ensures effective coordination of support units in the field, allowing unit commanders, section leaders and platoon leaders to develop and apply their tactical reasoning skills in combined-arms missions.