More TALON Robots for the US Military

Foster-Miller, Inc, WALTHAM: Foster-Miller, Inc., announced today that it has been awarded a $133 million contract for TALON robot spare parts and service, bringing its total current award for TALON 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 TALON EOD robots from the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) program 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 TALON 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 program and NAVSEA for their continuing support.”  
 
Foster-Miller, Inc. is an engineering, development and manufacturing company located in suburban Boston, MA, with additional offices in Albany, NY and Washington, DC. It became an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ North America Inc., in November, 2004. The company maintains a staff of more than 300 mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical, nuclear, aerospace, software and materials engineers.