CANBERRA, Australia, March 25 (UPI) -- Officers in Australia's navy will learn to pilot next-generation warships using a simulation system from Kongsberg Maritime Simulation and Training of Norway.
The simulator is part of an upgraded, $10.1 million training facility in Sydney.
The Australian Defense Department said the simulator uses computerized virtual-reality software to simulate a working warship's bridge, complete with a 240-degree view of a computer-generated 2-D scene through the bridge windows.
"This facility is at the cutting edge of simulator technology and provides junior seaman officers with very realistic training so they will be capable of carrying out the duties of the Officer-of-the-Watch before heading out to sea," said Australian navy Rear Adm. Steve Gilmore.
"Our navy is the first in the world to use multi-flex touch screens in a warship bridge simulator, which increases functionality without cumbersome hardware."
The Norwegian simulators replicate the full range of maritime operations likely to be experienced while on the bridge of a warship and can be reconfigured to match most classes of ship in the Australian navy's fleet.
New functionality includes boat operations, interdiction and docking and beaching evolutions pertinent to the new Landing Helicopter Dock ships, which are due to enter service in 2014.
