DRS Technologies: 50,000 Thermal Weapon Sight to U.S. Army

DRS Technologies, Inc., A Finmeccanica Company, announced today that the DRS Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) business unit has completed the delivery of its 50,000th Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS).
The contracts covering these units were awarded to DRS RSTA by the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, Project Manager Soldier Sensors and Lasers (PM SSL), and Product Manager Soldier Maneuver Sensors (PM SMS).
DRS was awarded its first TWS II contract as a prime contractor in 2004 to conduct the final qualification and begin manufacturing the Thermal Weapon Sights. In July of 2007, DRS was awarded a contract under the TWS II Bridge program, a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract to deliver up to a total of 150,000 Thermal Weapon Sights. Based upon the issuance of this TWS II Bridge contract, the total number of units awarded to DRS reaches almost 64,000, with additional awards anticipated in upcoming years.
After working closely with the customer for nearly five years, DRS completed the TWS II contract in June 2009, having delivered almost 30,000 units. In addition to providing the U.S. Army with large quantities of units, fielded DRS TWS II units have performed at or above the U.S. Government’s specifications, exceeding all of the key performance parameters.
The TWS II Bridge contract also included a technology insertion clause awarded to DRS by the US Government to incorporate 17-micron focal plane technology into Thermal Weapon Sights; this clause has already been exercised and qualification is currently in progress. These new Thermal Weapon Sights will enhance performance and range capabilities while achieving a cumulative weight reduction of up to 35% to 40%. Also included in both contracts is comprehensive support for the TWS, including a full complement of spares.
DRS Thermal Weapon Sights utilize 25-micron Vanadium Oxide (VOx), microbolometer-based uncooled thermal imaging technology to provide soldiers with outstanding reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities. Offering superior image quality and greater battery life than previous models of Thermal Weapon Sights, the DRS units are exceptionally easy to use, offering menu-based, push-button control of reticule, polarity and brightness.
The units are manufactured by the Melbourne, Florida and Dallas, Texas operations of the RSTA business group.
“The DRS team has made the customer’s mission our number one priority,” said Pat Zajac, Vice President, Dismounted & Unmanned Systems. “We used the synergistic power of the Government-Industry Integrated Product Team (IPT) to deliver to our customers a life-saving and reliable product for use by individual soldiers.”
RSTA President, Terry Murphy stated, “It’s a significant accomplishment to have put more than 50,000 high-performance DRS Thermal Weapon Sights in the hands of our Soldiers. By allowing them to see over great distances even in conditions approaching zero visibility, this technology allows them to accomplish their missions from safer distances, also enhancing their survivability. We’re proud to be making such an important contribution to a very challenging war effort.”

Kelly Dunst Advert December 15, 2010