OSI’s ECPINS WECDIS Powers Rheinmetall Navigation
Simulator Program
ECPINS at every touchpoint of the navigators’ journey
1. Ten Rheinmetall Navigation simulators will be powered by OSI’s ECPINS WECDIS
2. Ultimate preparation for rapid deployment through common look, feel, and interoperability
3. A significant project for OSI as it grows its European presence
June 26, 2024 – Burnaby, Canada – OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is pleased to announce it has been contracted by Rheinmetall to deliver ECPINS WECDIS for the base navigation simulators produced by Rheinmetall for the German Navy. This is marking a significant step in the utilization of ECPINS for naval operations.
This initiative underscores OSI’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for maritime training and operational readiness and is underpinned by system commonality and scalability, maximizing efficient crew deployment.
OSI will supply navigation systems to the vast majority of the German fleet, including F126 Frigates and over 35 combatants as part of the K130 Batch 1 and RadEA navigation suite upgrade programs, which OSI won in collaboration with ARCHE Elektronik GmbH. All these programs include simulators to enable ship class specific navigation bridge team training.
With this new contract Rheinmetall and OSI will equip ten navigation simulators of several training institutions of the German Navy with ECPINS, including Naval Training Centres as well as the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg and the Naval Operations School in Bremerhaven. These simulators are designed for purposes ranging from basic generic navigation training to bridge team training, depending on the specific training focus of the different end users. The first simulator that will use OSI ECPINS has recently been handed over from Rheinmetall to BAAINBw and to the Naval Operations School. This represents an important milestone in the related ship handling simulator program since it marks the beginning of the simulator roll-out to the remaining Navy locations and allows the Navy to conduct its navigation training in a modern digital environment.
Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO, OSI, commented, “The combined experience of working with Rheinmetall and the German BAAINBw marks a pinnacle project for OSI and expands the company’s presence in Europe.”
After finishing their training in these different types of navigation simulators, the German Navy cadets and sailors will be familiar with the latest generation of NATO WECDIS.
The final step before operational deployment for a German Navy vessel is normally to execute a realistic 5-week war scenario training alongside other NATO vessels, led by the Commander Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST).
Jim Davison, VP, BD, OSI, added, “The agreement effectively places ECPINS at every touchpoint of the navigators’ journey. From the beginning of their training on land to at sea, operational, and in theatre, ECPINS will be there. As the leading NATO compliant WECDIS, ECPINS is rapidly becoming the most prevalent WECDIS in use across NATO and Allied Navies, particularly those based on BR45 methodology as used by FOST.”
