The U.S. Army has given Raydon a $20.5 million contract to build eight Virtual Route Clearance Trainers (VRCT) used in training soldiers how to perform route clearance operations, improvised explosive device detection and removal of other hazards.

Each system allows 31 soldiers to train together in a similar virtual environment to improve their route clearance skills. Troops learn to clear hazards while in vehicles such as MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) and VMMDs (Vehicle Mounted Mine Detectors).

The initial contract, awarded by the Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training & Experimentation (PEO STRI), also includes three options that could bring the award to $53 million. The award follows a 2007 award for Raydon’s first-generation route clearance trainer, which was issued in response to an urgent needs statement from the Army through PEO-STRI.