USA: Alion Wins USD 4.6 Million Navy Contract to Develop PC-Based Training System for LCS-2

Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, was awarded a three-year, $4.6 million task order from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) to design a high-fidelity serious game to train sailors for the Littoral Combat Ship-2 (LCS) Readiness Control Officer (RCO) position.

Alion will expand its PC-based Virtual Maintenance Performance Aid (VMPA) from the current system developed for the LCS-1 RCO to an updated solution designed for the LCS-2 environment. This design approach demonstrates the reconfigurable nature of the simulation architecture and yields a more cost effective solution. Since each vessel has different training requirements, Alion’s VMPA RCO for LCS-2 trainer will include a ship-specific Electronic Control System graphical user interface, an instructor station that can control the training environment, the ability to integrate with the Surface Warfare Officers School’s LCS Bridge Training System and the virtual ship simulation that allows the trainee to learn the new equipment in a 3-D environment.

Ultimately, it is intended that the LCS-2 RCO will integrate with the LCS Shore Based Training Facility (SBTF) in San Diego.

“Alion is continuing its support of the VMPA Readiness Control Trainer program by building off of the existing trainer to provide a fully interactive, PC-based virtual ship environment to teach individual and team training on the LCS-2 hull,” said Rear Adm. Richard E. Brooks (USN, Ret.), Alion Senior Vice President and Manager of the Distributed Simulation Group. “Our trainer represents the capability to provide a total ship training environment, from tactical and force protection to damage control and maintenance training.”

Alion will provide the updated hardware and software for LCS-2 RCO to the Surface Warfare Officers School and the Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron. VMPA was developed in partnership with the Office of Naval Research and NAWCTSD to bridge the gap between training, skills and performance. NAWCTSD is the Littoral Combat Ship Training System Executive Agent.

About Alion Science and Technology

Alion Science and Technology is an employee-owned technology solutions company delivering technical expertise and operational support to the Department of Defense, civilian government agencies and commercial customers. Building on almost 75 years of R&D and engineering expertise, Alion brings innovation and insight to multiple business areas: naval architecture & marine engineering; defense operations; modeling & simulation; technology integration; information technology & wireless communications; and energy and environmental sciences. Based in McLean, Virginia, Alion employee-owners are located at major offices, customer sites and laboratories worldwide.
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Source: alionscience, May 3, 2011