CAE bags M1A2 tank engine trainer contract

CAE USA has received a contract from the US Army to provide a suite of M1A2 Abrams engine trainers, the company announced on 9 January.

Under the contract, CAE USA will develop two new M1A2 Abrams driver stations with live-engine maintenance trainers to support diagnostic and troubleshooting maintenance training tasks. The two initial maintenance-training devices will be delivered to Ft. Benning, Georgia in 2019.

The contract also includes options to develop and deliver nine additional Abrams live-engine maintenance trainers that will be located at Ft. Benning, Ft. Lee, and Gowen Field in Idaho.

As part of the programme, the company will design and develop new courseware as well as an updated instructor operator station to help automate training scenario set-up, improve student monitoring and scoring, and streamline lesson planning.

Ray Duquette, president and general manager, CAE USA, said: ‘We are pleased to be selected following a competitive procurement to develop a new suite of Abrams tank maintenance trainers for the US Army.

‘We have previously delivered virtual and hands-on maintenance trainers for the Abrams tank to the army, and these new engine trainers will provide a more realistic and practical training experience for students before they proceed to maintaining engines on the army's fleet of Abrams main battle tanks.’