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Ashton Gate hosts four-day conference for world’s military
The last time that soldiers were at Ashton Gate Stadium, it was to help set up a coronavirus vaccination centre.
Over the last four days, members of the UK’s armed forces have been joined at Ashton Gate by military personnel from across the world for a conference focused on defence simulation, education and training.
The aim of DSET is “facilitating Military to Military engagement, and continues to give Military the opportunity to educate industry in a challenge lead approach”.
is needed now More than ever
In one corner of the Lansdown Stand, what looked like a computer game was being played using virtual reality headsets.
But this is not a game: it is deadly serious.
The new virtual reality training system, called DVS2, is able to simulate multiple military environments and operations, with personnel able to train anywhere in the world with a range of weapons and equipment.
It has been purchased for the UK military in a £7.2m contract from Defence, Equipment & Support (DE&S) which is based at MOD Abbey Wood near Filton.
Made by Bohemia Interactive Simulations, DVS2 hosts more than 100 training scenarios including including enemy ambush and counter-terrorism – photo: DES
Head of soldier training & special projects at DE&S, Nick Taylor, said: “As our Armed Forces evolves so does the nature of the equipment and technology that we provide to them.
“This virtual training capability will allow for additional, accessible training outside of the more traditional physical operations that our military personnel regularly undertake.”
Lieutenant colonel Jes Giles added: “The introduction of DVS2 is a significant step forwards as we move to transform Army training; it will deliver a richer and more demanding virtual environment and will enable the exploitation of emerging technology such as virtual reality, creating immersive training experiences for soldiers across the spectrum of operations.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Ministry of Defence holds a ‘robot dog Olympics’ in Bristol
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