Canadian defence and technology company Calian Group Ltd. has secured a 15-year contract worth approximately CAD$296 million (£159 million) to support the British Army’s next-generation collective military training programme under the Army Collective Training Service (ACTS) initiative.
The long-term agreement, awarded through Raytheon UK, the lead contractor for the Omnia Training consortium, strengthens Calian’s position as one of the key providers of military simulation and training services for the United Kingdom and NATO allies.
The contract is scheduled to begin in October 2026, following the completion of the current Project NUMIDIAN programme.
Long-Term Investment in British Army Readiness
Under the agreement, Calian UK, the company’s British subsidiary, will continue delivering specialist collective training services designed to prepare British soldiers and commanders for increasingly complex battlefield environments.
The company said the contract provides approximately CAD$296 million in guaranteed base revenue over 15 years, making it one of Calian’s largest defence training programmes to date.
The deal also reinforces Calian’s growing presence in Europe as NATO members continue investing heavily in military readiness amid evolving security challenges.
Supporting the Army Collective Training Service (ACTS)
The Army Collective Training Service (ACTS) is designed to modernize how the British Army trains combat units by integrating advanced digital technologies, synthetic environments and realistic operational scenarios.
Unlike individual military instruction, collective training focuses on preparing entire formations—including soldiers, commanders and multinational coalition forces—to operate together under realistic battlefield conditions.
The programme aims to improve:
- Joint operational planning
- Command and control
- Interoperability with allied militaries
- Decision-making under combat conditions
- Multi-domain operational readiness
According to Calian, its role will involve delivering specialist training capabilities that expose troops to contemporary threats before deployment.
Calian Builds on Project NUMIDIAN Experience
The new agreement builds on Calian UK’s long-standing support for the UK Ministry of Defence under Project NUMIDIAN, where the company has provided collective training services for the British Army.
Through that programme, Calian has helped create realistic training environments that simulate modern battlefield challenges, enabling military personnel to practice operational planning, command coordination and mission execution before real-world deployments.
Executives Highlight Importance of Modern Military Training
Chris Pogue, President of Defence and Space at Calian, said realistic training is essential for preparing military personnel for future conflicts.
“Military readiness begins long before a mission starts; it begins with training that prepares troops to operate with confidence in complex, high-pressure environments.”
Pogue said the agreement demonstrates allied confidence in Calian’s expertise in military simulation and collective training while strengthening the company’s role in supporting operational readiness across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Raytheon UK Leads Omnia Training Consortium
Raytheon UK, an RTX business, leads the Omnia Training consortium, which brings together multiple defence companies specializing in military training, simulation and digital technologies.
James Gray, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Raytheon UK, said the programme would significantly enhance the realism of British Army training.
According to Gray, the consortium combines advanced technology with military expertise to provide soldiers and commanders with more realistic operational training while strengthening collaboration between the British Army and defence industry partners.
Growing Demand for Military Simulation
The agreement comes as armed forces across NATO accelerate investment in advanced simulation technologies.
Lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere have highlighted the growing importance of realistic virtual and synthetic training environments that allow forces to rehearse complex operations before deployment.
Modern collective training increasingly combines:
- Live military exercises
- Computer-generated battlefield simulations
- Artificial intelligence-assisted scenarios
- Digital command-and-control systems
- Multi-domain operational planning
Military planners view these technologies as essential for improving readiness while reducing the cost and logistical burden of large-scale field exercises.
Strengthening NATO Readiness
Calian said the ACTS programme further expands its international defence business and reinforces its contribution to allied operational readiness across the UK, Europe and NATO.
Drawing on decades of experience in collective training, systems engineering, simulation and interoperability, the company supports military organizations preparing personnel for increasingly contested land, air, maritime, cyber and space environments.
As NATO members continue increasing defence spending and modernizing their armed forces, long-term training programmes such as ACTS are expected to play a central role in maintaining alliance readiness.
About Calian
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Calian Group has more than 40 years of experience delivering mission-critical solutions across defence, space, healthcare and strategic infrastructure sectors.
The company employs more than 6,000 people worldwide and provides services ranging from military training and simulation to cybersecurity, healthcare support and advanced communications technologies.
