L-3 Communications' Link Simulation and Training Division Awarded Major Contract to Support US Army's Flight School XXI Program
06 April 2004
L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) today announced that its Link Simulation and Training division has been awarded a subcontract with a potential value of $471.7 million, if all options are exercised, to serve as a major subcontractor to Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) in the development and support of the U.S. Army’s Flight School XXI program.
CSC, which will serve as Flight School XXI prime contractor and lead systems integrator, has been awarded a contract with a potential value of $1.1 billion, if all options are exercised, that will significantly advance individual aviator and leader development training capability while enhancing the operational readiness and tactical proficiency of the U.S. Army active, reserve and National Guard aviation units. The CSC team will provide simulator-based flight training and related aviation training support activities to the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, AL.
In its role, Link will develop, test, install, operate, maintain and sustain all of Flight School XXI’s suites of Advanced Aircraft Virtual Simulators (AAVS) and Reconfigurable Training Devices.
“Flight School XXI supports the U.S. Army’s transformation efforts to increase aircrews’ experience in their aircraft prior to their first combat unit assignment,” said John McNellis, president of Link Simulation and Training. “The advanced simulation technology Link will deliver to the Flight School XXI program will support the Army’s vision to increase warfighter readiness.”
AAVS devices will train aircrews that operate the Army’s UH-60A/L Black Hawk, CH-47D Chinook, AH-64D Apache Longbow and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter platforms. Over the course of the program AAVS devices also will be built to support simulated training on additional helicopter platforms.
Flight School XXI’s reconfigurable trainers will enable simulated helicopter cockpits to be rapidly changed to represent any of the Army’s cargo, assault, reconnaissance or attack platforms.
Link also is responsible for networking all training devices being built for Flight School XXI, which will include a mix of operational flight trainers, instrument flight trainers and reconfigurable trainers.
Intelligent semi-automated forces, also supplied by Link, will represent both friendly and opposing combatants and serve as the backbone within this highly competitive, simulated warfighting environment. The semi-automated forces will bring the number of mission participants up to levels required for realistic training.
Link also will be responsible for providing contractor logistics support for all Flight School XXI AAVS and Reconfigurable Training Devices for the life of the contract.
Founded in 1959, Computer Sciences Corporation is a leading global information technology (IT) services company. CSC’s mission is to provide customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology. With approximately 90,000 employees, CSC provides innovative solutions for customers around the world by applying leading technologies and CSC’s own advanced capabilities. These include systems design and integration; IT and business process outsourcing; applications software development; Web and application hosting; and management consulting. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., CSC reported revenue of $13.8 billion for the 12 months ended Jan. 2, 2004.
Link Simulation and Training is a systems integration organization that delivers and supports training systems and equipment designed to enhance operational proficiency. Link’s services include conducting front end analysis, program design, simulator design and production, and field support. Link has its headquarters operation in Arlington, TX and other key bases of operation in Binghamton, NY, Orlando, FL, Broken Arrow, OK, and Phoenix, AZ.
