British soldiers train with IED simulator

LONDON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- British military officials say soldiers are now training with suicide bomber vests and Improvised Explosive Device simulators for more realistic scenarios.

The new training equipment can simulate roadside and suicide bombing scenarios that officials say is an effort to help troops deal with the constant threat.

The equipment was trialed at the British Army Training Unit Suffield.

"It's very effective," said Sergeant Major Darren Dangerfield of 1 Yorks Division, in a statement. "It's a step forward and a new way of training -- in terms of synthetic training, the soldiers get a visual side now as well. It incorporates the new thinking in the training from theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan. It trains the soldiers to react on what they see in front of them."

Officials say the IED simulator, which combines realistic sound with a 30-foot plume of smoke, can be integrated into several different training exercises, including roadside bombs, vehicle bombs and building entry scenarios.

"Training is a vital part of force protection," said Bob Ainsworth, minister for armed forces. "This investment demonstrates our commitment to ensuring troops have the best training equipment and facilities. As the type of threat changes, we must be able to adapt our training to meet operational needs. This latest simulator does just that."