Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a subsidiary of BAE Systems, has secured a contract to support the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter Class frigate program. The company will provide its Virtual Battlespace (VBS) software to act as the core simulation platform for the program’s Land-Based Test Site (LBTS). This synthetic test environment is a critical digital proving ground, designed to verify the integration, interoperability, and performance of the frigates’ complex combat and navigation systems long before they are physically installed aboard the ships.
This approach allows various systems, which are typically developed independently, to interact within a unified, real-time simulation environment. The VBS software facilitates data-level interaction, simulating everything from ship movement and sensor inputs to targeting data and command decisions. This creates a highly realistic operational testbed, ensuring that the Royal Australian Navy’s most advanced surface combatants are equipped with fully integrated, battle-ready systems from their initial deployment, with the first frigate scheduled for delivery in 2030.
The primary application is system integration testing, but the utility of the VBS synthetic environment extends significantly beyond that. Once the systems are validated, the same foundational simulation can be adapted for comprehensive training, mission planning, and rehearsal activities. This enables part-task training for specific functions such as operating remote weapon stations, managing uncrewed aerial vehicle operations, using the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and practicing small boat handling. This multi-use capability provides immense value, allowing for safe, efficient, and cost-effective preparation and testing without the inherent risks and exorbitant expenses associated with live system use on an actual vessel.
