The British Army is on the cusp of a technological revolution, with a £2 billion contract to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) training systems set to transform modern warfare. Over 15 years, this substantial investment will equip soldiers with the skills needed to tackle the complexities of contemporary conflict, from virtual environments that mimic real-world battlefields to advanced analytics that help commanders make better decisions.
At its heart is the 'Combat Laboratory', a sophisticated digital platform harnessing AI, virtual reality, and data analysis. This game-changing system will allow troops to train anywhere, anytime – up to 60,000 soldiers annually are expected to utilise it – making the British Army more lethal and responsive to emerging threats. By replicating scenarios from recent conflicts like Ukraine, commanders can learn from past mistakes and stay ahead of the curve.
The contract has been awarded to Omnia Training, a consortium led by Raytheon UK, which includes five UK-based companies: Capita, Cervus, Rheinmetall UK, and Skyral. This collaboration extends to a supply chain of over 44 British businesses, ensuring that the investment stays within the UK economy. Over the next 15 years, approximately 400 jobs will be supported nationwide, including 270 highly skilled roles in areas like software engineering, AI expertise, cloud engineering, and data analytics. Additionally, 100 apprenticeships will be developed in partnership with educational institutions like Wiltshire College and the University of Staffordshire.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP highlighted the importance of this programme, stating his commitment to providing soldiers with the quality training necessary for national security. He also noted the economic benefits, pointing out how defence investment generates skilled jobs across the UK. The new system will integrate simulation with live systems and analytics, enabling the assessment of operations, identification of patterns, and monitoring of performance through data and AI. This will support better decision-making and improve warfighting readiness across all command levels.
This significant investment forms part of a broader £298 billion Defence Investment Plan over four years, underscoring the government's commitment to modernising the Armed Forces. The aim is to enhance the British Army's warfighting readiness, strengthen its support for NATO and allied nations, and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of defence capabilities in a rapidly changing global security landscape.
Source: Ministry of Defence