PARSIPPANY, N.J., 23 June 2006. DRS Technologies Inc. has received a $14 million order to produce next-generation lightweight Thermal Weapon Sights (TWS II) for U.S. Army ground force applications. DRS received the new order from the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, acting on behalf of Program Executive Office Soldier.
For this award, DRS will produce Light Thermal Weapon Sights and Thermal Imaging Modules (TIMs), which will utilize the company's uncooled infrared technology. Work for this contract will be accomplished by the company's DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems - Optronics Division in Palm Bay and Melbourne, Florida, and Infrared Technologies Division in Dallas, Texas, and Irvine, California.
Deliveries will commence in February 2007 and continue through December 2008.
This order is part of a competitively secured five-year contract awarded to DRS in March 2004. The contract has a total potential value of $375 million, including options.
Using advanced microbolometer-based infrared technology, the DRS family of light, medium, and heavy TWS will provide U.S. Army soldiers and armament crews with greater range of threat detection and wider field of view. The Light TWS produced by DRS will mount onto M4 and M16 assault rifles. The TIMs will be used for handheld laser rangefinder day/night binoculars, supporting the Target Acquisition Laser Observation Night (TALON) program.
Similar next-generation thermal weapon sights produced by DRS have broad application for various missions of U.S. military services, including the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Special Operations, in addition to the Army. The variety of DRS's uncooled infrared sensors ensures availability to international militaries, as well. The company's thermal weapon sights product line also is applicable to homeland defense initiatives supporting first responders and government customs and border control/protection agencies.
