MASS teams with Hadean to bring added realism to UK joint command and staff training

UK-based defence and training support company MASS, part of the Cohort Group, has signed a contract with Hadean, a UK-based leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and spatial computing technology, MASS announced on 24 April 2025.

The partnership has been formed to support the Joint Command and Staff Training (JCAST) programme for UK Strategic Command, providing a simulated and immersive exercise design, preparation, delivery and analysis support capability for combined joint task force exercises.

The JCAST programme delivers comprehensive support to the Integrated Warfare Centre within Strategic Command and other areas within the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). According to MASS, it provides “a complete operational-level exercise design, preparation, delivery and analysis support capability helping to ensure that the UK’s operational headquarters are prepared for the full spectrum of potential deployments, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief responses to non-combatant evacuations and combat operations”.

Combining MASS’ expertise in planning and delivering large-scale training exercises with Hadean’s AI-assisted crisis scenario generation, UK Strategic Command personnel will train in a simulated setting that reflects today’s evolving operational challenges, MASS stated. The training environment will be augmented with additional ‘layers’ of realism, such as civilian behaviour and attitudes, as well as reflecting the evolving role of social media.

By increasing the scale, frequency and complexity of training exercises, the partnership will help the UK armed forces improve operational readiness, accelerate exercise development and drive long-term cost savings. The evolution of the training support will enable JCAST personnel to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing operational landscape, with quicker timelines and flexibility for planning and delivering training.

Added to this, the use of AI technology will also reduce the reliance on manual processes and the need for additional personnel and other resources to deliver exercises that reflect the evolving operational environment.

“Today’s military training must reflect the landscape of defence; operations no longer take place in isolation, with digital developments now playing a significant role,” explained Keith Norton, managing director at MASS, in a company press release. “By integrating emerging and innovative technology – such as generative AI – into joint force defence training, we can future-proof JCAST’s training support, ensuring it evolves in step with real-world defence operations.

“Our partnership with Hadean allows us to create a richer, more immersive training environment,” Norton added. “We combine MASS’ expertise in planning and delivering realistic training scenarios – with personnel role-playing key positions – with Hadean’s advanced synthetic environment technology, which simulates wider operational interactions including social media information and disinformation. This unique approach allows us to deliver a truly ‘train as you operate’ experience.”

“We are committed to providing the UK MoD [with] a decisive strategic advantage by providing the most accurate, immersive and realistic simulations of the real world,” added Craig Beddis, CEO of Hadean. “By combining Hadean’s best-in-class AI with MASS’s industry-leading expertise, we will facilitate more effective and impactful training programmes for defence and national security. Together, we can deliver solutions that enhance operational readiness and empower our forces to be the best trained and most prepared in an increasingly complex environment.”