Defence department $4 million contract to bolster Lavington company that provides weapons simulation equipment
WEAPONS training via a mobile simulator will be able to occur outback and overseas after a Lavington company won a $4.1 million contract.
InVeris Training Solutions secured the deal with the Defence Department to supply the mobile set-ups, having already provided fixed simulators at 27 army, navy and air force bases.
Managing director Kevin McNaughton said the mobile units, which have a four-metre projection screen to fire at, compared to 15 metres for their permanent cousins, would be beneficial in remote areas.
"Soldiers in regional force surveillance units in outback Australia that can't get to a fixed facility, they'll be able to get on to one of these systems and train (with) the same training methods that they would with the simulated rifles (at bases)," Mr McNaughton said.
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"Places like Katherine and Pilbara and also Broome, that's where these systems will be going and the good news for the business is that these systems will be nested within our existing support contract, making sure the jobs here stay secure."
Technology used in the simulators was developed by the InVeris parent company in the US, with weapons in the Australian defence force arsenal modified for firing at virtual targets.
Software and arms are serviced at the Lavington site which is home to 26 workers.
Mr McNaughton said over time more technicians would be employed there to repair the weapons.
Weapons used for simulated training practice at Lavington company which has won $4.1m Defence contract for mobile units to be deployed to places such as Katherine, Broome and the Pilbara. pic.twitter.com/DCnduIzDGb
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InVeris marked its 20th anniversary on the Border last year after having begun as Firearms Training Systems (FATS) and then gone under the name Meggitt before recently rebadging again.
Mr McNaughton said simulated firing made economic sense.
"Going to a live range is very resource intensive with all the people going to the ranges, the rations, the fuel, the ammunition they fire," he said.
Outlining: InVeris Training Solutions managing director Kevin McNaughton speaks to the media on Monday morning about his mobile weapons simulation units. The blue light is being beamed out from equipment used to set up artificial targets. Picture: MARK JESSER
"By putting millions of rounds through simulated weapons, you're not putting those rounds through real barrels, so you're not getting barrel wear and you do see some savings through using simulated weapons."
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley visited InVeris on Monday morning to announce the contract win on behalf of Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price.
She used the mobile simulator with a modified EF88 rifle and said she performed a "lot better" than she had when firing a model of the same firearm in the "real world" years ago.
"It's the mobility that this offers that will really be a game-changer when it comes to training our ADF," Ms Ley said.
Mobile units will also support an Australian training group at Butterworth in Malaysia and an amphibious ready team.
