TRAINING facilities at Salisbury Plain have received a £2 million upgrade to “reflect the changing character of warfare”, a top military chief has said.

The investment has gone into a new trench systems at Copehill Down Training Village with the facilities replicating realistic and modern battlefield conditions to support realistic military training.

Brigadier Gavin Hatcher CBE, Head of Overseas and Training Region at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, praised the enhancements at the “world-class training asset”.

He said: “This project demonstrates our continued investment in the Defence Training Estate and our commitment to ensuring the Armed Forces have access to the infrastructure they need to train effectively.”

Delivered through a partnership between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the British Army and Landmarc Support Services, the project improves training facilities and supports the Army’s wider modernisation programme. The investment provides soldiers with realistic environments in which to develop and refine the skills required for contemporary operations.

READ MORE: Salisbury Plain museum dream edges closer with £286k grant
READ MORE: Officer shot on Salisbury Plain with suspected catapult

“By working closely with Landmarc and the British Army, we have delivered facilities that reflect the changing character of warfare and support realistic, demanding training,” Brigadier Hatcher added. “This investment will help ensure Copehill Down remains a world-class training asset for years to come.”

Designed to reflect the realities of modern conflict, the project has delivered a network of new field fortifications and trench systems integrated into the existing training village. The works include fighting positions, covered command posts, protected shelters, observation points and vehicle positions, creating a challenging and representative training environment for military personnel.

Speaking about the evolution of modern warfare, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Land Warfare Centre, Colonel William Robinson, said: “The nature of warfare continues to evolve and our training environments must evolve alongside it.

Training facilities at Salisbury Plain received a £2 million upgrade. Picture: MoD

“These new trench systems provide soldiers with realistic facilities that support the development of tactical skills and decision-making in representative conditions. Investments such as this ensure our people are prepared for the complex challenges they may face on operations.”

The project was delivered with support from specialist supply chain partners, drawing on expertise in military infrastructure, construction and estate development.

By investing in modern training infrastructure, the Ministry of Defence says it is ensuring the Defence Training Estate continues to evolve alongside the changing character of warfare, providing Service personnel with the environments they need to develop and maintain operational advantage.

Describing the Defence Training Estate as a “national asset”, David Morgan, Programme Director at Landmarc, said “maintaining its relevance requires continual investment and innovation.”

He added: “This project demonstrates how collaboration, engineering expertise and a shared focus on military capability can deliver practical improvements that directly support the Armed Forces. The enhanced facilities at Copehill Down will provide enduring training value for many years to come.”

The project forms part of Defence’s wider programme of estate investment and modernisation, helping ensure the estate remains fit for purpose for current and future generations.

READ MORE: News stories on your Salisbury & Avon Gazette website