Accenture wins Air Force research deal

Accenture Ltd. will assist the Air Force in meeting its training and simulation needs through a three-year, $22.18 million research contract.Under the contract, Accenture will develop prototypes of advanced modeling and simulation technologies. These technologies will enable the Air Force to deploy live, virtual and constructive modeling and simulation tools where they are needed, company officials said.Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., awarded the research contract.The new contract "concentrates on technologies that will be useful to the Air Force as it defines the needs of the joint warfighter of the future," said Peter Schnorr, Accenture's vice president for Air Force program.Accenture wants to help the military services find ways to train warfighters more quickly and at reduced cost, he added.Accenture is the prime contractor for the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training toolkit. The toolkit comprises a suite of simulation systems, game applications and related tools that help train Air Force teams for missions. The three-year contract is set to expire next year.The newly awarded research contract is a separate project, Schnorr said.Accenture, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, ranks on Washington Technology's 2008 of the largest federal government prime contractors.