BUFFALO, N.Y., 2 Nov. 2009 DRS Defense Solutions LLC's announced that its Intelligence, Communications & Avionics Solutions (ICAS) operation in Buffalo, N.Y., is under contract with the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard to provide an advanced Joint Man-Portable Air Defense System (JMANPADS) trainer.

Using the latest in ultraviolet technology, the new electro/optical training simulator will be used to train tactical airlift crews in the advanced tactics needed to survive the threat of small, man-portable weapons, DRS officials say. It will be used to train C-130 aircrews to defend themselves against weapons such as shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, which are a major threat to low-flying aircraft.

"This is our first sale of this advanced technology ultraviolet training device to the U.S. Air National Guard," says Logen Thiran, ICAS vice president. "This realistic training will help aircrews learn the tactics needed to defeat the man-portable threat."

The U.S. Army PEO STRI Acquisition Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL., awarded the contract.