CAE, Pinnacle Solutions JV Xebec Awarded Contract for US Army’s Maritime Integrated Training Systems
Global training systems integrator, CAE and American firm, Pinnacle Solutions announced their joint venture company Xebec Government Services has been awarded a contract to provide the United States Army with a new and upgraded Maritime Integrated Training System (MITS).
The MITS is a suite of simulation systems designed to train the Army’s personnel who operate a range of watercraft, including logistics support vessels, manoeuvre transport vessels, large landing craft, and expeditionary fast transports. The US Army Transportation School’s Maritime & Intermodal Training Department (M&ITD) oversees the MITS located at Ft Eustis, Virginia.
Under terms of the contract, Xebec will be responsible for a comprehensive upgrade and technology refresh of all the existing MITS configurations, including Expeditionary Fast Transport simulation, Full Mission Bridge simulator, and Vessel Defense Simulator, said CAE in a statement. In addition, Xebec will develop and deliver new simulation systems for the Manoeuvre Support Vessel (Light) and Vessel Handling Workstation to be integrated to the overall MITS. All elements of the Maritime Integrated Training System are designed to operate as a standalone simulator for individual training or as an integrated and networked system for full-crew mission training.
“This is a new programme for CAE USA and Pinnacle through our Xebec joint venture and continues our growth in providing training solutions for a variety of surface ships,” said Ray Duquette, President and General Manager, CAE USA. “The Maritime Integrated Training System delivers a virtual training environment that is critical to providing both enlisted and officer personnel with immersive and realistic training scenarios.”
As part of the technology refresh, Xebec will update the existing MITS to use the latest version of General Dynamics VirtualShip virtual reality software suite. The MITS upgrade will address a range of cybersecurity requirements and will also include enhancements to the instructor operator station, after action review station, and scenario generation system.
“Pinnacle, as the Xebec JV managing partner, is pleased to build on the outstanding collaboration with CAE that started with the successful Littoral Combat Ship simulator program for the US Navy and will now continue with the Maritime Integrated Training System for the U.S. Army,” said Pinnacle’s President and CEO, Mike Durant.
The MITS delivery order was awarded to Xebec, which was established under the US Small Business Administration’s Mentor-Protégé programme. The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) under the Navy’s Training Systems Contract IV (TSC IV) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract vehicle. NAWCTSD worked closely with the US Army’s Programme Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI). -shp/cae/adj/aaa (PHOTO: US Army- PEO-STRI)