Israeli training and simulation specialist Bagira announced on 3 May 2023 that it has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide its Magnet live tactical training system.
Under a contract valued at around GBP 13 M (EUR 14.74 M), the Magnet system will be procured to address the British Army’s Roundless Tactical Engagement System (R-TES) requirement.
Bagira, supported by UK partner Babcock International, will deliver the system to the British Army during 2023 and also provide five years of support and additional options for further extensions. Bagira will manufacture and deliver the systems, while Babcock will provide services to support training and learning over the life of the contract.
R-TES, as part of the UK’s Collective Training Transformation Programme, is an innovative pathfinder project that will contribute to the shape of future dismounted simulation in the British Army.
Magnet is a force-on-force tactical engagement simulation system that allows soldiers to use real weapons to simulate engagements but without the use of blank ammunition or the requirement to wear body harnesses or use complex communications networks. The system thus enables tactical training with minimal set-up times, logistics and costs.
The system also uses a customisable exercise control system to monitor and control simulated engagements in real time.
The British Army’s R-TES, as provided by Magnet, will be fielded for use on the L85A2/A3 (SA80) assault rifle, the L129A1 sharpshooter rifle, and the L7A2 general-purpose machine gun initially in three British Army garrisons across the UK.
Peter Felstead
