BAE Systems OneArc has received a contract from the US Army to integrate its Embedded Collective Training (ECT) solution onto a platoon of combat vehicles stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
The contract, awarded under the Force Development Innovation & Assessment (FDIA) initiative, marks the first time a commercially available embedded training system will be installed on a US Army combat platform.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to BAE Systems, the Army crews will use the ECT system during the FDIA event to complete precision gunnery tasks required for platform qualification.
The initiative also evaluates embedded training for weapon systems and crew-level performance on combat vehicles.
Previously, the US Army previously relied on live-fire exercises and standalone simulators for crew training, which are costly, difficult to schedule, and not fully replicating the operational environment of combat vehicles.
BAE Systems OneArc president Rahul Thakkar said: “By integrating a commercial embedded trainer directly on a combat platform already in the fight, the Army gains a repeatable model for pairing new equipment with training capability from day one, rather than treating training as a follow-on program years down the road.
“For a force under pressure to modernise on compressed timelines, the shift, from training as only a pre-deployment activity to training as a built-in capability, is central to what FDIA is designed to prove out.”
The ECT kits are built to scale, initially supporting collective platoon-level training and, in later phases, distributed tactical manoeuvre exercises.
According to BAE Systems, this approach extends to additional ground platforms, both crewed and uncrewed, streamlining embedded training across a common framework and ecosystem.
The ECT solution aligns with the Army’s commercial-first approach, which aims to shorten development and deliver training capabilities within months of acquisition.
1st Cavalry Division standardization master gunner sergeant first class Patrick Muir said: “The ECT supports Army FDIA by providing a single, adaptable system that enables precision and collective training across geographically dispersed locations using organic platform controls and procedures. This gives commanders greater flexibility to build and sustain readiness while reducing the costs and infrastructure requirements traditionally associated with dedicated facilities.”
