Alion to develop LCS training system

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MCLEAN, Va., May 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has contracted Alion Science and Technology to develop a PC-based training system for Littoral Combat Ship-2 Readiness Control Officers.

The three-year task order from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division is worth $4.6 million.

Alion, with headquarters in Virginia, said it will expand its PC-based Virtual Maintenance Performance Aid from a 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.

It is intended that the LCS-2 RCO will ultimately integrate with the LCS Shore Based Training Facility in San Diego, Alion said.

"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 retired Navy Rear Adm. Richard E. Brooks, 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."