AT&T lands battlefield training work

AT&T Corp.'s government solutions division won two multiyear contracts potentially worth $134 million to develop live battlefield training systems, the company said today. The Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation will manage the work.

The first contract, valued at $74.1 million, is to build the Army's One Tactical Engagement Simulation System. AT&T will lead a team of companies to create a next-generation war system game.

This system will replace current live battlefield training systems and will accommodate advanced weapons training and smart munitions. It will use sensors embedded in weapons and other gear, and be more realistic and less intrusive than the current laser-based training. It also can be deployed to remote locations and save the Army time in setting up and breaking down battlefield training exercises.

Team members include General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems of Tempe, Ariz.; United Defense LP of Arlington, Va.; FSCX Inc. of Lawton, Okla.; Icon Systems of San Diego; SRC of Atlanta; SRI International of Menlo Park, Calif.; Sparta Inc of Lake Forest, Calif.; MCR LLC of Vienna, Va.; Chenega Technology Service Corp. of Alexandra, Va.; and Applied Research Associates Inc of Albuquerque, N.M.

The second contract, awarded by Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Simulation, Training and Support company in Orlando, Fla., is to provide the communications infrastructure for the National Training Center Objective Instrumentation System.

As part as a team of companies, AT&T will design, develop and implement a networking infrastructure for the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. It also will support voice, data and video communications to create a realistic battlefield environment and allow trainers to review battlefield action. The subcontract is worth up to $60 million.

AT&T Government Solutions is in Vienna, Va.