Raytheon Increases Army Sensor Commonality Via $180M Upgrade Of 872 Vehicles

MILTECH

The M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

Mckinney TX (SPX) Oct 05, 2005
As 572 new Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, 300 LRAS3 (Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance Systems) and other Army ground platforms roll out, all will be equipped with upgraded "night vision" sights produced by Raytheon.

Using $180 million in follow-on funds, the company will give the Army's M1A1 vehicle fleet a new generation of sensors under a one-year contract that was driven by "lessons learned" during the Middle East conflict.

The award clears the way for Raytheon to produce 1,603 Block 1 B-Kits and 252 Abrams M1A2 A-kits to update the vehicles with the latest in forward- looking infrared (FLIR) systems.

The Block 1 effort, also known as "Second Generation FLIR" (SGF), is fully funded and Raytheon expects further Block 1 SGF awards in 2006.

Using FLIR technology, warfighters can view the battlefield 24/7, in all weather and wartime conditions including rain, smoke, sandstorms, fog and dust. Compared to first generation FLIR systems on older M1A1s, the Block 1 upgrade will double the distance at which troops can identify a target and increase the distance at which a gunner can "lock-on" to a target.

The greater the identification range, the more accurately American war fighters can engage enemy platforms and avoid fratricide.

"Second generation FLIR is often listed as the first or second priority for Army combat vehicle technology upgrades," said Glynn Raymer, vice president of Raytheon Combat Systems.

"The Block 1 SGF program not only offers significant improvements in cost, size, weight and power, but also the technology integration effort will advance the Army's transition to a modular force, provide improved performance and increase sensor commonality across the vehicle fleet."

The company will provide the same, or similar, systems for the U.S. Marine Corps, key international partners and U.S. Army government-furnished equipment.

MILTECH

BAE Systems Displays Armed Robotic Demonstrator At AUSA

Arlington VA (SPX) Oct 05, 2005
BAE Systems is displaying an Armed Robotic Demonstrator at the Association of the U.S. Army's 2005 Annual Meeting and Exposition this week in Washington to illustrate the synergy between current and future forces.

SUPERPOWERS Walker's World - The West's Big Threat U.S. Experts Fear Russia-China Axis US Pushes Japan To Break Deadlock Over Relocation Of Air Base Corridors Of Power: Return Of Diplomacy	NUKEWARS South Korea Wants "Active" Steps Before Six-Way Talks US, North Korea Hold Direct Talks On Nuclear Weapons Iran Will Resume Nuclear Talks, But Questions Persist: IAEA Chief US Denies Urging Russia To Freeze Nuclear Cooperation With Iran
MISSILE NEWS India Tests Surface-To-Air Missile BAE SYSTEMS 70mm Laser-Guided Rocket Achieves Two Direct Hits South Korea To Develop New Missile Raytheon NLOS-LS Enhanced Precision Attack Missile Seeker Approved As Baseline Capability	MISSILE DEFENSE Bulava Tests Boost Russia's Confidence Against BMD Northrop Grumman Completes First Hardware and Software Integration For SBIRS AEGIS Weapon System Successful In Ballistic Missile Tracking Exercise Team Completes First Mission For MDA's Targets And Countermeasures Program
AEROSPACE NGC Awards International Contracts For F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Nigeria To Buy Fighter Planes From China First Joint Air Dominance Center In The World To Open China's Top Airplane Maker Aims To Become Major Global Player	UAV NEWS IntelliTech's Vector P Completes Successful Agricultural Test Flight Cyber Defense Systems Signs LOI And Reseller Agreement With V-TOL Aerospace NGC Accepts First Production Unit Of New Global Hawk Sensor Suite U.S. Customs & Border Protection Makes History With Launch Of Predator B UAV
IRAQ WARS Bush Describes Strategy For Victory In Iraq Iraqis Slam New Constitution U.S. 'Lacks Moral Authority' In Iraq Outside View: America's Mideast Future	MILTECH BAE Systems Displays Armed Robotic Demonstrator At AUSA DRS Tech To Provide Embedded Hull Diagnostics Systems For US Army Vehicles US Army Soldiers Test New Weapons In Germany Raytheon Increases Army Sensor Commonality Via $180M Upgrade Of 872 Vehicles

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement