SAIC awarded deal after SE core delivery

SAN DIEGO, March 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army says it has contracted Science Applications International Corp. for the continuation of virtual training simulation technology development.

The contract by the Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Program awards California-based SAIC $18 million for the company to continue development of its synthetic environment core, a virtual military training technology. SAIC was given the follow-on contract after the delivery of the initial version of the SE core.

Officials say the follow-on extension is under an Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command Omnibus contract originally awarded to SAIC in April 2005 as part of the Army's Common Virtual Environment initiative. Officials say the Common Virtual Environment is an effort to take virtual training technologies and integrate them with interoperable training system.

"SE Core establishes the standard for virtual simulation architectures, providing key interoperable capabilities for future and legacy Army products, including the OneSAF (One Semi-Automated Force) program, which is also supported by SAIC," Beverly Seay, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager, said in a statement.