DRS selects Mountain Secure Systems to develop, produce ruggedized video management units for SABRE

July 2, 2015
LONGMONT, Colo., 2 July 2015. Mountain Secure Systems (MSS), a supplier of rugged electronic solutions and subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries (PSI), won a two-year development and production contract from DRS Technologies Inc. to provide ruggedized video management units (VMUs) for the Surveillance and Battlefield Reconnaissance Equipment (SABRE) system from DRS Technologies. The SABRE sensor suite provides tactical air controllers with the ability to perform reconnaissance and targeting at extended ranges.

LONGMONT, Colo., 2 July 2015. Mountain Secure Systems (MSS), a supplier of rugged electronic solutions and subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries (PSI), won a two-year development and production contract from DRS Technologies Inc. to provide ruggedized video management units (VMUs) for the Surveillance and Battlefield Reconnaissance Equipment (SABRE) system from DRS Technologies. The SABRE sensor suite provides tactical air controllers with the ability to perform reconnaissance and targeting at extended ranges.

The rugged VMU from MSS is a 3U VPX system comprised of several single-board computers, high-definition (HD) frame grabber cards, graphical processor units, and other I/O modules. It will provide computing resources for the primary Operator's Control Station (OCS) on the Surveillance and Battlefield Reconnaissance Equipment (SABRE) system from DRS Technologies, Inc.

The SABRE system from DRS is a modular sensor suite with radar, thermal imaging, and laser systems on a stabilized mast and is compatible with any type of battle command network. It provides scouts, forward observers, and tactical air controllers with the ability to perform reconnaissance and targeting at extended ranges. The system facilitates operations while hidden or on the move in rugged environments, share targeting data from multiple sensors across battle command networks. The SABRE system was updated to accommodate the Canadian Army Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Surveillance Program.

General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, the producer of the LAV 6.0, awarded DRS Sustainment Systems Inc. an eight-year, firm fixed-fee contract valued at approximately $100 million for the production of masted surveillance suites and accompanying operator control stations, as well as program engineering and service support.

For the program, DRS updated its Surveillance and Battlefield Reconnaissance Equipment (SABRE) system. In developing the system for LRSS, DRS has partnered with Thales-Canada, the prime contractor of the Canadian Army’s tactical battle management system.

MSS also offers in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions for the commercial aircraft market, as well as legacy interface conversion solutions for customers in the aerospace and defense industries. In addition, MSS provides outdoor wireless network solutions for video, voice and data applications.

Mountain Secure Systems (MSS), a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries Inc. (PSI), is a supplier of rugged electronics and legacy interface conversion solutions to the aerospace and defense industries, as well as inflight entertainment solutions for commercial aircraft. In addition, MSS offers outdoor wireless network solutions for video, voice and data applications.

Established in 1967, Phillips Service Industries Inc. (PSI) is a privately-held global manufacturing and services holding company, which oversees a diverse collection of innovative subsidiaries: Beaver Aerospace & Defense Inc., Evana Automation Specialists, Mountain Secure Systems, POWERTHRU, PSI Repair Services Inc., PSI Semicon Services, Sciaky Inc., and Skytronics Inc.

DRS Technologies is a supplier of integrated products, services, and support to military forces, intelligence agencies, and prime contractors worldwide. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica SpA, which employs approximately 70,000 people worldwide.

About the Author

Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace

Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.

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