LINKOPING, Sweden, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The next generation of laser-based training systems for U.S. Army armored vehicles is being provided by a Saab subsidiary under a $17.2 million contract.
The value of the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity award, if all options are exercised over a five-year period, would be $90 million, the company reported.
Saab Training USA said its commercial-off-the-shelf training system was selected after an extensive weeklong field evaluation at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.
The Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System provides an accurate, laser-based replication of a combat vehicle's weapons and will be used initially on all variants of the M-1 Abram's Tank and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
The easily installed units will replace most of the earlier Saab-made gunner training simulators supplied to the U.S. Army for the Abrams and Bradleys.
Saab Training USA, which has headquarters in Orlando, Fla., has provided U.S. military forces with a range of products for decades.
"We are currently fielding instrumentation systems at the Army homestations," said Saab Training USA President Lars Borgwing.
"This system will enhance the training realism for the mounted soldiers immediately as the Army makes the shift into Unified Land Operations while supporting the Army Force Generation Model as troops return from current combat operations."
