Initially, the UK Royal Navy's Project Spartan synthetic hub will be located at Portsdown Technology Park. (BAE Systems)
The UK Royal Navy (RN) continues to develop its Maritime Operational Training Environment (MOTE), and in particular is progressing its plans for the synthetic element.
The MOTE consists of Project Apollo, which is providing the enablers for live training such as air and surface threat representation, and Project Spartan, which will provide the synthetic element. Both these address the external battle, but eventually the intention is to develop a realistic facility for internal platform training as well, which will incorporate both live and synthetic aspects.
Speaking at the 2025 Omega Joint Military Training & Simulation Conference held in Bristol in March, Captain Dan Vincent, senior responsible owner for Spartan, explained that the project consisted of four tranches. Tranche 1 (Tr1) is the Maritime Command and Staff Trainer (MCAST), which is a constructive simulation capability that will deliver battle staff training. The RN does not currently have a permanent staff training, mission rehearsal, and assurance capability at formation level.
The MCAST contract is currently out to tender with a contract award expected in May and the contract commencing in September. The contract is for five years with the option to extend for a further two, after which MCAST will either fold into Spartan Tr3 or possibly become part of the future joint command and staff trainer (CAST).
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