A-T supplies Navy with mobile IED trainers

VIENNA, Va., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is to receive A-T Solutions Inc.'s Mobile Counter Improvised Explosive Device Interactive Trainers under an $8.9 million contract.

A-T Solutions, which has headquarters in Virginia, said the contract contains options for additional training units and if all options are exercised the total project value would be $17.8 million.

"We are pleased to be delivering our first MCIT training program to the U.S. Navy," said Dennis Kelly, chief executive officer of A-T Solutions. "This is an exciting program because through its deployment we have the chance to save lives by increasing the number of our warfighters who will be better prepared to detect and defeat IEDs during operational deployments."

The MCIT, which is uses interactive video, terrain maps and realistic simulations, helps troops recognize components of IEDs.

Its modular design accommodates the need for rapid updating and customization of content, which is especially effective in keeping forces current on the latest enemy activities, trends and tactics, the company said.

"This is key to helping our warfighters adapt to an ever-changing threat," Kelly said. "We believe this technology solution is highly adaptable to support similar training needs in other federal agencies as well as in the state and local municipal markets we serve."

The MCIT program was developed as a pilot project over the past two years under the Joint IED Defeat Organization, Joint Center of Excellence. Three prototype systems were designed and built by the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies and A-T Solutions to support the training of soldiers prior to deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.