Defence Displays Leading to Deals
Fresh from a successful trade trip in the United Kingdom, Motum Simulation is eyeing off more defence contracts as that part of the business continues to flourish.
Managing Director Steve Hoinville made the journey to the UK for the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade show in mid September.
Mr Hoinville says the defence industry provided numerous opportunities for Motum to expand.
“The DSEI show not only keeps us in front of various departments of defence but also the prime contractors, because all of them need training and simulation services,” he said.
The same budget restrictions that are often experienced by racing teams or driver training centres can also be issues within defence departments, which is why Motum simulators can be so appealing.
“With our simulators you’re getting top tier technology, but for a fraction of the cost – so instead of having one simulator per 100 defence vehicles, you can get one in every 10.”
“There’s always been this very high barrier to entry with other simulators – it often starts at half a million dollars, but with Motum that’s just not the case.”
Mr Hoinville said Motum was able to use its patented TrueMotion 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) technology to help with training gunners as well as drivers in multiple types of vehicles and aircraft.
“The beauty of the simulators is that they can be used to replicate the operations of personnel across air, land or sea.”
“The Motum models make for a lot more realistic training because of the range and flexibility they have. It offers a lot more than other simulators that are static.”
The other advantage of the Motum models are that they are agnostic in terms of their application, meaning one unit can be used to train multiple disciplines.
“You can change the payload quite quickly, within about 30 minutes, because we’re software independent.”
“In the defence industry they can buy one motion base and use four different cockpits. Things from a bushmaster to a boxer or jeep.”
“It’s also got aerial applications for helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft, as well as amphibious landing craft.”
Mr Hoinville says Motum’s continued presence at defence shows like DSEI was paying dividends.
“The same personnel within defence start to see us again and again and it starts to twig with them that there is a much more efficient way of doing things,” he said.
And off the back of successful partnerships with the Australian Defence Force, there is now interest from other countries.
“UK and European units are interested in the use of the simulator to support training for several roles, including several vehicle platforms and Rigid Inflatable Boats”
“There is certainly an appetite within the defence community to acquire or deploy more simulators”
