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US Marine Corps Orders Additional Live Training Equipment from Swedish Manufacturer Saab.
Swedish defense company Saab has received a contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps for additional Marine Corps Training Instrumentation Systems (MCTIS) equipment. The new order is valued at $37 million (SEK 375 million), with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2027.
Saab has secured a $37 million contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps for additional MCTIS training equipment. (Picture source: SAAB)
Saab has secured a $37 million (SEK 375 million) contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps for additional MCTIS training equipment, with deliveries set between 2025 and 2027.
This contract ensures that the U.S. Marine Corps continues integrating Saab’s deployable and expeditionary live training solutions. The MCTIS system provides an advanced, interoperable training capability that allows Marines to train in highly realistic environments, enhancing their tactical skills, decision-making, and survivability in combat situations.
The program focuses on refining tactics, techniques, and procedures while facilitating joint training exercises with NATO allies. By emphasizing interoperability and realism, Saab contributes to strengthening the operational readiness of both U.S. and allied forces.
The Marine Corps Training Instrumentation System (MCTIS) is an advanced live training system used by the U.S. Marine Corps to enhance combat readiness through realistic and technologically advanced exercises. It integrates live, virtual, and constructive training elements, allowing Marines to operate in environments that closely replicate battlefield conditions. This system relies on sensors, laser simulation systems, and GPS tracking tools to monitor the movements and actions of units in real time.
One of MCTIS’s key advantages lies in its ability to provide detailed performance analysis through after-action review tools, enabling a thorough assessment of tactical and strategic decisions made in the field. This approach fosters continuous improvement in combat techniques while enhancing coordination between units and reinforcing standard operational procedures.
Designed to be interoperable with training systems used by allied forces, particularly NATO, MCTIS enables multinational joint exercises, strengthening cooperation and cohesion among strategic partners. Its deployable and expeditionary nature makes it highly adaptable to the Marines' needs, allowing them to train in diverse environments far from fixed infrastructure.
MCTIS represents a significant advancement over its predecessor, the Instrumentation and Tactical Engagement Simulation System II (ITESS-II). It introduces more sophisticated technology, improved combat data analysis, and a higher level of realism in engagement simulations. This transition underscores the Marine Corps’ commitment to modernizing its training capabilities to address contemporary operational challenges and enhance force preparedness against emerging threats.
“We are honored that the U.S. Marine Corps continues to trust us in training the next generation of warfighters,” said Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the United States. He highlighted that this training capability immerses Marines in realistic scenarios while thoroughly analyzing their decision-making and actions, ultimately improving their effectiveness and safety.
The collaboration between Saab and the U.S. Marine Corps began in June 2021, transitioning from the previous Instrumentation and Tactical Engagement Simulation System II (ITESS - II) to the next-generation MCTIS. With this contract extension, Saab reaffirms its role as a key partner in training U.S. ground forces.