PARSIPPANY, N.J., 26 October 2006. DRS Technologies Inc. has received a $12 million order to produce Knight precision targeting systems and mission equipment electronic units, as well as to integrate the packages into more than 60 U.S. Army M1117 armored security vehicles.

The order was issued by DRS from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Mich. Work for this order will be accomplished by the company's DRS Sustainment Systems unit, located in St. Louis, Mo. Delivery of completed vehicles is expected to commence in March 2008 and be completed in January 2009.

The Knight is a precision targeting system consisting of a laser designator and rangefinder, thermal imager, digital command and control system, blended inertial/global positioning system (GPS) navigation and targeting capability, and a self-defense weapon.

It provides far-target location and laser target designation for artillery and air-delivered, general-purpose and precision-guided munitions. Data received is automatically formatted within the fire support tactical data system for digital transmission. Position and targeting data also can be incorporated into other battlefield command and control systems. The Knight system is designed to be both platform and sensor independent.

The M1117 Armored Security Vehicle is an armored wheeled vehicle equipped with an armament system.