US Army awards BAE Systems $123m for thermal weapon sights
The US Army has awarded BAE Systems a $123 million contract for continued production of thermal weapon sights that improve situational awareness and survivability for men and women in combat. The order - the most recent under a five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract - increases BAE Systems' total thermal weapon sight contract value to more than $1 billion since 2004.
The electronics technology is used on rifles, machine guns, and mounted weapon systems.
"The Army continues to show its confidence in our performance to provide a quality product for the men and women of our armed services," said Bruce Zukauskas, director of soldier solutions for BAE Systems in Lexington, Massachusetts. "This means soldiers will continue to receive our much-needed thermal weapon sights, which are lighter, smaller, and less expensive than first-generation sights, and thus help them to perform better in their missions."
BAE Systems also recently received a $14 million multi-year contract to provide these sights to the Canadian Army. The widely used thermal weapon sights allow operators of individual and crew-served weapons to see deep into the battlefield in darkness and through smoke, fog, and other obscurants, helping them detect and identify targets at longer ranges. The sights complement current and future infantry armaments, enabling users to overmatch the enemy in all conditions, day and night.
The company produces light, medium, and heavy thermal weapon sights using the company's MicroIR® uncooled infrared sensor technology to generate superior IR imagery without the need for bulky, power-consuming cryogenic cooling equipment.
The company has completed rigorous field testing of its thermal sites, demonstrating their ability to withstand harsh battlefield environments, and to date has delivered more than 80,000 sights to meet urgent Army fielding requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Source: BAE Systems
More from Land Warfare
-
![Aselsan has started producing Akkor active protection system for Altay tank]()
Aselsan has started producing Akkor active protection system for Altay tank
Akkor is an active protection system (APS) developed by Aselsan, equipped with both hard- and soft-kill functionalities. It provides protection against antitank missiles and rockets for armoured vehicles and is designed for Turkey’s Leopard and Altay tanks.
-
![Fering Pioneer X moves towards production]()
Fering Pioneer X moves towards production
The Pioneer X long-range vehicle has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3,500kg, of which 1,850kg is payload and the lightweight carbon chassis can be fitted with various top modules to suit requirements. In addition, there is the potential for a 6x6 version with increased volume and payload.
-
![NP Aerospace brings life to Jankel as others eye it as Land Mobility Programme partner]()
NP Aerospace brings life to Jankel as others eye it as Land Mobility Programme partner
NP Aerospace took over Jankel’s contract to supply and support Belgium’s Light Tactical Transport Vehicle (LTTV) fleet after acquiring Jankel Armouring’s assets.
-
![Lessons from Ukraine are complex, say forces’ leaders]()
Lessons from Ukraine are complex, say forces’ leaders
The Ukraine war has provided impactful videos on social media, namely the sight of small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) bombing or attacking vehicles and soldiers. This has, however, been overstated and the basics of warfare and effects remain unchanged, according to leading military personnel.
-
![Thales targets requirements with Xtraim digital weapon sight and reveals that thousands have already been sold]()
Thales targets requirements with Xtraim digital weapon sight and reveals that thousands have already been sold
The sight can be used by soldiers wearing night-vision goggles if required and has an all-in-one architecture that combines conventional red-dot and thermal imaging technologies.
