DRS Technologies Awarded US Army Contract for the Supply of Infrared Technology

Released on Monday, September 14, 2009

DRS Technologies Inc., a Finmeccanica [FNC IM; SIFI.MI] company, has been chosen together with another supplier for a 1.9 billion dollar contract to supply infrared technology Driver's Vision Enhancers (DVEs).

The contract, awarded by the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) covers orders from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Special Operations Command.

DRS' DVEs provide combat and tactical-wheeled vehicles to maneuver in safety in severely degraded visual conditions resulting from smoke, fog, sand and other obscurant agents. Using advanced infrared-imaging and display technologies, the units provide unparalleled situational awareness under any conditions, helping users detect and navigate possible threats, day or night.

In 2004, DRS awarded its first DVE contract. Since then, more than 40,000 units have been delivered for deployment on a full range of combat and tactical-wheeled vehicles, including the Abrams tank and Bradley fighting vehicle, Stryker, MRAP, Amphibious Assault Vehicle, HMMWV and other heavy and medium tactical-wheeled vehicles.