Army deal points out priority of high-tech training

High-tech training will remain a priority for the Army, based on a new contract it signed with Universal Systems & Technology Inc.

High-tech training will remain a priority for the Army, based on a new contract it signed with Universal Systems & Technology Inc.

The company, known as Unitech, won the contract with the Army Training and Doctrine Command to design tactical battlefield training programs and other high-technology courseware for soldiers. The contract is for one year with four option years and is worth up to $320 million.

Unitech won the contract as the leader of a nine-company team. Six companies were awarded prime contracts under Training and Doctrine Command and Distance Learning Education and Training Products.

On Unitech's team are: American Systems Corp., Booz Allen Hamilton, Cubic Defense Applications, MountainTop Technologies Inc., Dynamic Animation Systems Inc., Logistics Engineering & Environmental Support Services Corp., Metro Productions and TecAccess.

Unitech will analyze Army training needs and development of interactive courseware, immersive "virtual reality" training environments and typical classroom materials. It will manage the contract from its base in Centreville, Va., and its new Training Development Center in Newport News, Va.

The Army's ultimate goal is to develop an Integrated Training Environment that lets it offer on-demand training capabilities worldwide.