Meggitt Training Systems Wins US Marine Corps Contract for Additional Wireless Virtual Weapons

SUWANEE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meggitt Training Systems announced today it has been awarded a $2.6 million contract for additional BlueFire^® wireless virtual weapons to be used by the US Marine Corps on its Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT), also delivered by the company as a program of record. The BlueFire M9 pistols, M4 rifles and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles will be used at several USMC bases throughout the United States. Deliveries to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany will begin within the next 90 days and should be completed by December 2020.

“This order for additional BlueFire weapons demonstrates the value they and ISMT deliver in terms of virtual firearms training for Marines who must be ready to deploy anywhere at any time,” said Andrea Czop, vice president of strategy, sales and marketing. “Only Meggitt Training Systems can engineer and deliver weapons that so closely match form, fit and function of the originals, paired with our FATS^®-based trainer that features military-certified ballistics for the highest accuracy in marksmanship training.”

Meggitt was originally awarded the $32 million, five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity ISMT contract in 2014, delivering and installing 490 systems installed at locations worldwide. As a certified program of record, ISMT trains new and experienced Marines in marksmanship, collective scenarios and judgmental video scenarios. Each mode provides critical training based on the skill level of the individual or unit.

BlueFire weapons use commercial wireless technology to communicate with ISMT and other FATS-based virtual training systems, giving the same control as tethered weapons, but with full range of movement. These patented weapon simulators can be used in conjunction with other tethered weapon simulators without modification. For enhanced, more realistic visuals, Meggitt’s BlueFire weapon simulators feature a 3D marksmanship training environment. The after-action review allows engagement and shot assessment in a 3D virtual environment, while providing detailed trainee diagnostics for skill reinforcement or correction.

About Meggitt Training Systems

Meggitt Training Systems, makers of FATS^® and Caswell technologies, a division of Meggitt PLC, is the leading supplier of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training systems. Following the acquisition of FATS^® virtual training systems and Caswell International's live-fire ranges and services, Meggitt Training Systems continues to grow its capabilities based on the legacy of these two industry leaders. Over 15,000 Meggitt live-fire ranges and 7,200 virtual systems are fielded internationally, providing judgmental, situational awareness and marksmanship training to the armed forces, law enforcement and security organizations.

Meggitt Training Systems employs more than 400 people at its headquarters in Atlanta and at facilities in Orlando, Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, UAE, Australia and Singapore. It can deploy service personnel anywhere in the world for instructor training, system installation and maintenance.

About Meggitt PLC

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Meggitt PLC is an international group operating in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for its specialized extreme environment engineering, Meggitt is a world leader in aerospace, defence and energy, employing nearly 12,000 people at more than 40 manufacturing facilities and regional offices worldwide.