Following the exercise the whole battle can be played back for post-exercise analysis. CATT will provide more effective training, as current simulators lack the complexities of a modern battlefield and only involve small parts of a battlegroup rather than a whole formation. It will be the largest facility of its type in the world. The CATT system will use the latest technology to keep front-line troops trained to the required high levels of operational effectiveness, reducing pressure on training land, the defence budget and the environment. The total cost of the programme is around 360 million.
New buildings are under construction at both sites.
The UK building is due to be completed in October 1999 and the German building in October 2000. The Warminster facility is scheduled to be in service and ready for training in November 2000, with Sennelager following in mid 2001. This extends to equipment supply, installation and integration for the German system, but the building is the responsibility of the German Construction Agency. The MOU allows for future bilateral exchange of CATT-like developments between the UK and US programmes. Contractors Lockheed Martin Information Systems broke ground for the construction of its Warminster, England facility last June.