DRS Technologies,
PARSIPPANY: DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today it received orders totaling approximately $48 million from the U.S. Army this fiscal year to continue its electro-optical design and engineering, manufacturing, provision of spare parts, field service support, and general depot repairs for the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) systems equipped on OH-58D Kiowa Warrior attack helicopters.
DRS received orders for $36 million and $12 million from the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command’s (AMCOM) Acquisition Center located at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The work was and will continue to be accomplished by the company’s DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems – Optronics Division in Melbourne and Palm Bay, Florida.
This year’s orders are part of a current five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract that has a maximum value in excess of $700 million. Since the beginning of this ID/IQ contract in December 2003, DRS has been awarded approximately $276 million from AMCOM to produce and maintain MMS systems.
The MMS is one of the key systems on the Kiowa Warrior attack helicopter. Its unique capabilities allow its pilots and crew to scan a battlefield to acquire, identify, and engage targets. Being mast mounted, the MMS enables the helicopter to fight both day and night and in adverse weather conditions from the maximum range of its weapons systems and with minimum exposure to enemy threats. It also allows the helicopter to remain concealed until just a few seconds before an engagement. The long distance detection and surprise attack capabilities give the crew a considerably greater survivability rate than attack helicopters with nose-mounted sensors.
Systems inside the MMS include a high-resolution television camera for long-range, low-light target detection, an infrared thermal imaging sensor supporting navigation, surveillance and target acquisition, and a laser rangefinder/designator to provide precise target location and guidance of Hellfire missiles.
“The unique design and ease of upgradeability of MMS has enabled DRS to keep this solution at the forefront of aviation sighting technology since it was introduced 25 years ago,” said James M. Baird, president of DRS’ Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition Business Segment. “These most recent two awards allow DRS to continue that 25-year record of performance and demonstrate our ability to succeed as a premier provider for the Army in the future.”
The RSTA Business Segment develops, manufactures and supports electro-optical technologies, including advanced cooled and uncooled thermal-imaging solutions for soldier systems, ground vehicle, airborne, and maritime as well as for industrial, security, public safety and firefighting applications.
