LEXINGTON, Mass., 10 February 2005. BAE Systems has been awarded a second-year production contract for the Thermal Weapon Sight II (TWS II) by the U. S. Army's Communication and Electronics Command (CECOM).
CECOM recently issued a modification to the existing Program Year One (PY-1), multiyear TWS contract, calling for 4,028 weapon sites with options for an additional 2,500 sites. This $33 million PY-2 production contract raises the total contract value to $53 million.
"The BAE Systems' TWS team has made great strides successfully bringing hardware into qualification testing just eight months after original award," said Barry Yeadon, BAE Systems' TWS II program manager. "This PY-2 production award reflects Army and Marine Corps confidence in BAE Systems ability to meet war fighters' requirements."
The TWS II is being developed and qualified in partnership with Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier at Fort Belvoir, Va., to provide the Army infantry and Marine Corps with the ability to detect and engage targets day or night, in all weather and battlefield obscurant conditions. The TWS II enables individual and crew-served weapon gunners to see deep into the battlefield, increasing their surveillance and target acquisition range.
The TWS II weapons sites will be produced at BAE Systems' IR imaging systems facility in Lexington, Mass.
BAE Systems' TWS family of sights, produced under this contract, complement current and future infantry armament for light, medium, and heavy weapons. The light-weapon thermal sight weighs less than two pounds and mounts primarily to M4 carbines and M16 rifles. The medium- and heavy-weapon thermal sights weigh less than three and four pounds respectively. The latter provide airborne, air assault, Ranger, and mechanized infantry forces with long-range target detection to engage their crew-served armaments.
All three TWS variants use state-of-the-art MicroIR microbolometer sensor-engine technology, produced in volume by BAE Systems. Similar MicroIR technology is also being used in cameras serving Homeland Security customers in public safety, industrial and security sectors.
The base five-year contract is worth $111 million and could be valued at more than $250 millikon, if all options are exercised.
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defense systems.
BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately £12 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.
BAE Systems North America is one of America's foremost national security, aerospace and information systems companies. It is a leading provider of electronic and information-based systems and knowledge-based solutions that meet our customers' mission effectiveness and operational safety needs. BAE Systems North America employs more than 30,000 people at sites across the United States and the United Kingdom and generates more than $5 billion in annual sales.
BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Systems Integration Sector (IESI) is a leader in situational awareness, electronic attack and defensive systems solutions for the U.S. battle space market. It provides and supports innovative capabilities-based solutions for U.S. Defense, Intelligence and Homeland Security customers. IESI's 9,500 employees are located in eight states and several overseas locations. IRIS, part of IESI, is located in Lexington, Mass. For more information, see www.iews.na.baesystems.com.
