Boeing Teams With Creative Technologies Inc. on Training Solutions

ST. LOUIS.- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced a teaming arrangement with Creative Technologies Inc. (CTI) of Hollywood, Calif., to explore new training solutions for the military and law enforcement. The agreement brings together Boeing’s expertise in aviation training systems and CTI’s experience in game-based simulations for ground forces training.

"This agreement allows us to take what we do well and translate it into new possibilities for Boeing in the ground training and simulation arena" said Mark McGraw, vice president for Training Systems and Services, a division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Global Services and Support. "We are committed to finding new ways to use the talents of both companies to expand the services we’re able to offer the military"

The agreement formalizes an ongoing relationship -- CTI is a contributor to the Boeing Future Combat Systems program, and Boeing and CTI are partners in the U.S. Army’s Fires Center of Excellence integration effort at Fort Sill, Okla. The Army approached Boeing and CTI to offer guidance in developing an organization and a training strategy to consolidate the Army’s Air Defense Artillery School and Center, previously based at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Field Artillery School and Center based at Fort Sill. The Boeing-CTI team is making recommendations for potential synergies and long-term training strategies while developing a technology plan to support current and future Fires Center of Excellence missions.

"We’re excited to combine Boeing’s industry leadership and broad range of capabilities with CTI’s know-how, relationships and agility" said CTI President and CEO James Korris. "Simulation for ground forces and law enforcement is still, in many ways, in its infancy; we look forward to helping shape this evolving market. We’ve had a great run with Boeing. We’re thrilled to be their teammate"

One possible area of growth is deployable field-artillery training for soldiers who are either in-theater or home between deployments. "These trainers would be designed to travel to a soldier’s home base or directly to the front lines to keep our warfighters current on their artillery skills" said McGraw.