UK Ministry of Defense Gets Virtual Battlespace 2

Representatives from developer Bohemia Interactive, recognized in gaming circles for its Operation Flashpoint series of titles, have announced that the UK Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) has purchased an enterprise license for Virtual Battlespace 2 (VBS2) and Calytrix’s Live-Virtual-Constructive training system. The license, distributed through Bohemia's strategic partner Calytrix Technologies, provides the UK MoD with a simulation solution for use in collective and tactical training, mission rehearsal, experimentation and terrain/3D model visualization for AO familiarization. Virtual Battlespace is an interactive training system inspired by the Operation Flashpoint titles and used for military and civilian combat and experimentation purposes. Bohemia officials note that for the initial contract, valued at over AU$3 million ($2.5 million), Calytrix will deliver Project Management and Systems Integration of VBS2 into the UK constructive environment, as well as acting as the VBS reseller. Under the enterprise license, Bohemia Interactive Australia and Calytrix are providing a number of software and services to the UK MoD, including site licenses for VBS2, the VBS2 tool suite, and HLA/DIS Gateway (Calytrix's LVC training system). Also included in the license is a specifically tailored UK module, including UK specific units, vehicles, weaponry, aircraft and ships; and a custom terrain module including an urban area, a large detailed building complex, an airfield and harbor. Training courses for the technology are also to be offered as well. The enterprise license also includes an upgrade to the VBS2 Virtual Tool Kit (VTK) when it is released. According to Bohemia, the VTK will provide “a range of editors that will enable every aspect of the simulation to be easily modified and configured; to the extent that the product could be repackaged by any typical user to suit a new training requirement or demand.” The licensing to the UK MoD marks the latest for Bohemia and its Virtual Battlespace technologies. In August 2006, the company announced an enterprise license agreement with the United States Marine Corps for (USMC), extending an unlimited number of VBS1 and VBS2 licenses to the USMC for use in tactical training, mission rehearsal and experimentation. “We are very pleased that the UK MoD has chosen VBS2 as the COTS virtual environment of choice for both training and experimentation,” commented Peter Morrison, director of Bohemia Interactive Australia. “Bohemia Interactive has worked very hard to improve all aspects of our simulation over the past few years and we will continue to modify the product in accordance with the requirements of the UK MoD."