AWES is the world’s most advanced ground combat training package in operation today, providing effective combined arms training for the British Army. The land-based system is now operational at two locations: the Salisbury Plain Training Area in the UK and at the British Army Training Unit at Suffield, Alberta, Canada.

AWES, with fully integrated Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES), provides unprecedented fidelity and realism for simulated force-on-force battles and objective After Action Reviews (AARs).

The system features timely and realistic area weapons effects simulation, new soldier and vehicle instrumentation systems and a software-based system for exercise planning, mission control and AARs. AWES integrates portions of the British Army’s existing Direct Fire Weapons Engagement System with Cubic’s Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES 2000).

AWES simulates artillery, mortar fire, smoke, nuclear, biological, chemical attacks, mines and air-delivered munitions during the simulated battles. Participants in the training exercises are equipped with digital communications that indicate their position, weapons fired and casualty status.

The system electronically captures and records event data from individual soldiers and vehicles and sends the information to an exercise control center for real-time training analysis. The recorded information is reviewed during AARs, which are conducted in either a stationary theater or two mobile theaters in the field.

The integration of the new Bowman radio communication system will bring full digitization into the TES environment. AWES is designed to support future interoperability with the Helicopter Collective Training System and the Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System.

Major Features

• Simulates indirect fire, minefields, obstacles and air-delivered munitions
• Integrates MILES 2000 and the existing DFWES to enable participants equipped with both systems to operate as a cohesive unit
• Features an instrumentation system that monitors exercises in near-real time and provides event data for AARs
• Includes a universal player unit (instrumentation issued to all vehicles and soldiers) to provide flexibility and adaptability to a diverse training population
• Features innovative audio cues for area weapons effects that enhance the use of pyrotechnics
• Supports combined arms training
• Features virtually transparent equipment for the participants to minimize distraction
• Utilizes Cubic’s proven data link technology using VHF frequencies
• Produces realistic notional casualties through automated electronic casualty cards, enabling effective training in casualty treatment and evacuation
• Provides the ability to monitor and record Combat Net Radio across the Instrumented Battlefield; to be expanded to support Bowman digital radio capabilities.
• Includes a seamless interface with the British Army’s Battlefield Artillery Target Engagement System (BATES) to allow for fully integrated indirect fire simulation and battlefield effects

Future AWES Solutions

• INTEROPERABILITY with air maneuver through integration of rotary wing and fixed wing platforms
• DIGITIZATION with the fully integrated Bowman radio communications system and digitized environment
• HLA SERVER INTERFACE to provide the integration path for other training systems to support higher formation and joint training
• EXPANSION CAPABILITIES for Brigade and higher level commands while supporting any scale mobile TES capability