US Air Force Expands Immersive Pilot Training

Vertex Solutions, a Woman-Owned Small Business, has been awarded a contract to deliver 25 additional T-38 Gen 2 reconfigurable enhanced immersive training devices (eITDs) to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as part of the Virtual TRaining for Air Dominance (VTRAD) Fighter Bomber Fundamentals (FBF) program.

This contract is a directed award by Air Education and Training Command (AETC) under authority of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).  Vertex received a Success Memo from DIU for acceptance of the prototype VTRAD fast jet simulators developed under the OTA. This DIU Success Memo provides justification and authorization under 10 U.S.C. §4022 for government organizations to award Vertex Solutions sole source contracts for similar mixed reality simulators.

The reconfigurable Gen 2 eITD enables student pilots to conduct cockpit familiarization, emergency procedures, and rehearse mission scenarios – significantly reducing the need for costly aircraft and more expensive traditional simulator time. With built-in instructor oversight and flexible scenario customization, these devices support both individual and team-based learning. Vertex’s ITDs are currently fielded across the U.S. Air Force and Navy’s undergraduate pilot training enterprise and continue to demonstrate measurable performance outcomes.

“Vertex now has more immersive training device configurations in operation than any other provider,” said Sandra Reiter, Principal Owner and CEO of Vertex Solutions. “That speaks to our ability to innovate, adapt, and scale solutions that not only meet mission requirements, but also get results.”

The successful DIU-led acquisition process that enabled this latest contract provides a proven, accelerated pathway for other government organizations to procure immersive training solutions directly from Vertex, helping agencies meet urgent training needs without delay.