US Army Awards JETS TLDS Prototype Development Contract to DRS

DRS Technologies has been awarded a contract for the development and delivery of an advanced next-generation target-location and fire-support system prototype to the US Army.

Awarded by the Army Contracting Command (ACC), the $15.5m cost-plus-fixed-fee, incrementally-funded contract supports the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the service's joint effects targeting system (JETS) target location and designation system (TLDS) programme.

DRS Network & Imaging Systems president Mike Sarrica said the company's JETS solution represented the result of several years of innovation and development, and features an integrated design that can affordably enhance soldier's precision targeting capability.

"This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of DRS team members to understanding our customer's requirements and developing, qualifying, testing and producing a superior product," Sarrica added.

Equipped with TLDS and targets effect coordination system (TECS), the JETS is a one-man targeting system to enable forward observers and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) to acquire, locate and mark for precision GPS-guided and laser-guided munitions to reduce friendly-fire and collateral damage in the battlefield.

The system will primarily provide dismounted forward observer and JTAC with a networked, automated communications capability for planning, coordination and delivery of fire support, as well as terminal close air support guidance from all joint assets in all operational environments.

Management, design and production of prototype systems are scheduled to be carried out at the company's facilities in Florida, US, with an estimated completion of March 2016.

Other JETS TLDS EMD contractor include BAE systems, which secured a $15m award to modify its new man-portable Handheld Azimuth Measuring, Marking, Electro-optic imaging & Ranging (HAMMER) precision targeting system for the programme last month.

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