Military orders electro-optical commander's viewer for Army Bradley armored combat vehicles targeting

June 8, 2022
Using forward looking infrared sensors, the system enables the vehicle's commander and gunners to detect, identify, and acquire targets at long ranges.

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – U.S. Army armored combat vehicles experts needed electro-optical systems to enable commanders of the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle to search the surrounding area while safely inside their vehicles. They found their solution from Raytheon Technologies Corp.

Officials of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency Aviation segment at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $52 million order to the Raytheon Intelligence & Space segment in McKinney, Texas, for The Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) commander’s viewer unit. This is a one-year contract with no option periods.

The IBAS viewer for Bradley armored combat vehicles helps provides target acquisition, tracking, engagement, and fire control for the Bradley vehicle's tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile system, as well as its 25- and 7.65-millimeter weapon systems.

Using forward looking infrared sensor technology and eye-safe laser rangefinder capabilities, the system enables the vehicle's commander and gunners to detect, identify, and acquire targets at long ranges to make the most of the vehicle's weapons. As a result, these systems give warfighters major battlefield advantages at night and in poor visibility.

Related: DRS wins $54 million contract to produce infrared sighting systems for U.S. Army combat vehicles

The IBAS commander's viewer is an updated version of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle's commander's independent viewer -- a 360-degree panoramic surveillance sight that gives the Bradley fighting vehicle improved hunter and killer capabilities, increases situational awareness, and boosts weapon effectiveness for the Bradley commander.

The second-generation infrared vision system for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle includes enhanced capabilities for early threat detection from long stand-off ranges.

Raytheon should be finished with the work on this contract by 31 March 2026. For more information contact Raytheon Intelligence & Space online at www.raytheonintelligenceandspace.com, or the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation division at www.dla.mil/Aviation.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor-in-Chief

John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.

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