QinetiQ,
Washington DC: Foster-Miller has been awarded a $133 million contract for TALONTM robot spare parts and service, bringing its total current award for TALONTM EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) robots to $257 million through 2012.
This contract represents the third component of a three-part award that began in September 2002 with a $27 million contract for TALONTM EOD robots from the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) programme managed for all service branches by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NAVSEA) in Indian Head, MD.
Two weeks ago, NAVSEA awarded Foster-Miller an additional $96 million to increase the number of TALONTM EOD robots to up to 1200 over the next seven years, bringing the company's total award to $124 million, then the largest single order in its history.
Foster-Miller is the leading supplier of EOD robots for Iraq and Afghanistan. Its robots have already successfully completed more than 50,000 missions there to defuse roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
As one EOD soldier said: “No other robot was able to handle the rigors of day-to-day ops and the amount of IEDs we rendered safe while over in Iraq this last rotation like the TALON.”
“Foster-Miller's commitment to providing our soldiers with the very best equipment, service and support over the life of this contract is unwavering,” said Dr. William Ribich, president and CEO. “We thank the MTRS programme and NAVSEA for their continuing support.”
