SAIC Customer Wins Award for Virtual Mission Trainer Project

A U.S. Air Force customer of Science Applications International Corp. received the inaugural International Data Corporation (IDC) 2021 Future of Digital Innovation Award in the government category.

The award recognizes Air Force Detachment 24, 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command for excellence with the Virtual Mission Trainer (VMT) project, a component of the service’s Pilot Training Next program delivered by SAIC. VMT, an extended-reality training platform, integrates the latest advancements in commercial gaming, software, analytics and training methodologies. During the Covid-19 pandemic when flight schools stopped in-person instruction, students using VMT have been able to complete 95% of required activities.

VMT enables the Air Force to overcome its challenge of rapidly training more pilots but without more planes, equipment, or instructors. In the first implementation of VMT in 2018, the program reduced training course duration from 12 to six months, and students were conducting solo flights about 40% sooner than traditional classes. VMT enables training at the point of need via accessible hardware – such as extended-reality headsets – and SAIC-developed software.

“When confronted with one of the most devastating global events in our lifetimes, the Air Force was able to innovate and continue its missions because of VMT,” said Robert Kleinhample, vice president of immersive technologies at SAIC.

The IDC Future of Digital Innovation Awards recognizes unique applications of digital innovation. Award winners were recognized at IDC’s Future of Digital Innovation Excellence virtual event held September 15, 2021.