The Portuguese Navy has awarded a major ship handling simulator contract to KMSS. The contract consists of several naval bridge cubicles located on two different locations connected by a fibre optic network.
The main shiphandling bridge will be installed at the Navy's tactical centre and will replicate the bridge of the "Vasco da Gama", a MEKO-class frigate. Each of the two naval training sites will be equipped with different configured bridges providing the capacity to train several bridge crews operating in the same exercise scenario, simultaneously. In addition to the bridge facilities, a simulated OPS room will be installed at the tactical centre to provide tactical information to each scenario. KMSS supplied a large engine/propulsion simulation system for "Vasco da Gama" five years ago – this was the world's first combined diesel and gas (CODOG) simulator. A comprehensive suite of realistic visual exercise areas including the Portuguese coast with dedicated 6 degrees of freedom ship models will enhance the "mission readiness" of the Portuguese Navy's ship personnel.
The system will include the latest technology in system architecture one all levels: Multiple simulator sites, wide area network using fiber optic and object oriented programming.
High Level Architecture (HLA) – an application respected and recognised by the defence authorities. This feature will allow interface and interaction to future training simulators such as tactical trainer, flight simulator and other military training devices.