CSC lands $1.1bn army deal

NEWS CSC has won a $1.1bn deal from the US Army to help manage its flight simulator and aviation training operations. Based on the terms of the 12-year contract, CSC will provide simulator-based flight training and support activities at the Army Aviation Center in Alabama. The pact, dubbed Flight School XXI, includes an eight-year extension option, with the value of the deal exceeding $1.1bn if the additional years get picked up. The IT services company has provided similar services at the base under the Joint Test and Evaluation Contract for roughly six years. In July, CSC announced it was part of a joint venture that won a similar 12-year, $2.7bn deal with the US Air Force to support operations, maintenance and information management. Over the past year, the company has bolstered its efforts in the government sector, winning a handful of new deals and completing its acquisition of DynCorp, a consulting services company that focused on federal government clients. According to CSC, the Flight School XXI deal is aimed primarily at cutting operational costs and improving flight training performance. The company will also work with the Army to further develop its technology-based training methodologies and virtual flight simulators. CSC said other companies working on the Flight School XXI contract will include Flight Safety International, Link Simulation, NLX, Intelligent Decision Systems and ISERA Group. Matt Hines writes for CNET News.com