15:48 GMT, August 31, 2010 The Swiss Army has used laser shot simulators – so-called LASSIM – for many years for training purposes. These cutting-edge systems are combined to create simulation support for combat exercises – known as SIMUG for short – and are deployed within an integrated structure. This process facilitates realistic exercises which can be evaluated in detail up to company military unit level. All of the participants, from soldiers to company commanders, are tested, pushed and efficiently trained with the live simulation system.

The system key was formally handed over today by the manufacturer, RUAG Electronics, represented by Jakob Eggenberger, Vice President Key Account Management. This was accepted by armasuisse during the course of a short ceremony. Eggenberger underscored the close collaboration and coordination which took place between army planners, the procurement authority, the Army and the armaments industry. This enabled the project to be driven forward within an extremely creative process. SIMUG for the first time makes it possible for the first time to deploy and evaluate the simulators of different weapons simultaneously against each other.

Martin Sonderegger, Deputy Head of Armaments, formally took receipt of the key and thanked all those in the project team for their contributions. “This was very challenging work, and is testimony to outstanding know-how and expertise,” he declared. Sonderegger immediately handed the key over to the future users. Deputy Army Commander, Major General Fritz Lier, accepted this, and is delighted to have a state-of-the-art combat training system at his disposal.

The Swiss Federal Council gave the go-ahead for SIMUG as part of the 2004 Armaments Programme, and this was subsequently approved by parliament. The SIMUG procurement value is CHF 95 million. This encompasses two systems (Bure /JU and St. Luzisteig /GR), spares and logistics as well as maintenance equipment.

Performances relating to the operation of SIMUG are being rendered by the armaments sector within the framework of a pilot trial, and create jobs in the region.