Milestone in the development of the Heavy Weapons Carrier Simulator for the Infantry
Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH has achieved a significant milestone in its training solution for the Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier (AGSW). The training equipment, designed for gunnery and combat training, successfully passed its Factory Acceptance Test at Rheinmetall’s Bremen facility in June 2026. The assessment included representatives from the Army Concepts and Capabilities Development Centre (ACCDC) and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), alongside soldiers from the fusilier troops and the Infantry School, who conducted a thorough inspection of the system.
This development allows crew training to commence in parallel with vehicle deliveries. Notably, training and simulation were integral to the system’s development from the outset. In 2022, a collaborative goal was established by the Bundeswehr and industry to provide initial training equipment even ahead of the first vehicle deliveries.
The AGSW’s development initiated following the contract signing in early 2024 and reached completion in July 2026, facilitated by Rheinmetall’s close collaboration with the Infantry School and the ACCDC during the concept phase to effectively integrate the requirements of future users.
Currently, the first component of the two-stage training solution is already operational for the fusilier troops. Procedural trainers were delivered to Fusilier battalions between September 2025 and April 2026, enabling timely initiation of crew training before the vehicles arrive. The first AGSW is expected to be handed over to the Infantry School in autumn 2026.
The AGSW serves as the central element of this training solution, encompassing a highly realistic gunnery and combat simulator that includes a control, evaluation, and monitoring station along with four fighting compartments. It adeptly simulates various aspects such as vehicle interior, vehicle logic, operating procedures, aiming behavior, driving dynamics, and ballistics with high accuracy. This training spans from individual crew member instruction to interaction among crew members, tactical procedures, and complex platoon-level scenarios.
The simulators are also designed for compatibility with ‘infantry desktop trainers’, facilitating joint training between vehicle crews and dismounted infantry. These desktop-based trainers utilize the same simulation software and operating logic as the AGSW, establishing a foundation for subsequent training.
Furthermore, both systems empower users to independently create and tailor virtual terrain environments, allowing them to replicate future operational areas and practice movements, positions, and tactical procedures ahead of potential deployments.
The development of the AGSW conceptually draws from the ‘Training equipment for gunnery and combat training Puma infantry fighting vehicle’ (AGSP), which reached a significant milestone in 2025 and is now in serial production. Additional training solutions for Bundeswehr vehicles are also in development based on this technological foundation, aiming to equip fusilier troops, armored infantry, and army reconnaissance troops with dedicated training resources at their locations.
In July 2026, the project manager at BAAINBw confirmed the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test, paving the way for the delivery of five AGSW systems to users by mid-2027. Following functional testing and acceptance at their sites, simulation software for both the operational trainer and AGSW will be adapted to align with the final development stage of the Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier and released as a consistent version.
This initiative creates a comprehensive training solution in accordance with the ‘train as you fight’ principle, ensuring crews receive highly realistic training prior to the inaugural deployment of the new weapon system.
