ST. LOUIS, 9 Nov. 2005. LaBarge, Inc. has been awarded a $2.2 million dollar contract from BAE Systems to produce the Ethernet Switch Unit (ESU) for its A3 Bradley Combat Systems vehicles.
The ESU functions as a router and a switch, making local forwarding decisions to devices operated in the vehicle's LAN (local area network).
LaBarge anticipates production, which will be performed at its Huntsville, Ark., facility, to begin in June 2006 and continue through September 2007.
The Bradley A3 is a technologically advanced, highly mobile, digital fighting system that significantly increases the Bradley's lethality and survivability in battle. Bradley A3 communications enable digital information displays for the commander, driver and squad leader.
The Bradley Combat Systems played a centerpiece role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and continues to provide survivability, mobility, and lethality to U.S. soldiers in all types of close-combat urban scenarios or in open-combat terrain. The Bradley fulfills critical infantry, cavalry, fire support, battle command and engineer roles for the Army's heavy brigades.
LaBarge, Inc. is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology- driven companies in diverse markets. The company provides its customers with sophisticated electronic products through contract design and manufacturing services. Headquartered in St. Louis, LaBarge has operations in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. For more information, see www.labarge.com.
