DRS Technologies, has announced that it received a contract, not-to-exceed (NTE) $98.3 million to provide JV-5 ultra-rugged vehicle computing and display systems for the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) and Blue Force Tracking (BFT) programs to support U.S. Army and Marine Corps (USMC) situational awareness requirements. The company received the contract from the Army's Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM), Life Cycle Management Command at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
The JV-5 vehicle computing system includes new technologies, such as multi-core processors, increased memory and greater data storage and expansion capability to allow for future technology improvements. These enhancements provide the computer systems with better graphics processing, data handling and system networking capabilities.The company's DRS Tactical Systems unit in Melbourne, Florida will manufacture the systems and is scheduled to begin delivering them in May 2008. Completion is expected in January 2009. The company's vehicle computer systems are being installed on more than 40 types of U.S. Army and Marine Corps wheeled and tracked vehicles at tactical operations centers and other command post platforms. 'DRS is committed to the rapid production of our JV-5 vehicle computer and display systems to meet this urgent need requirement in support of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles and other priority efforts,' said Michael J. Sheehan, president of DRS' Tactical Computing strategic business unit. 'We are extremely proud of our new computer system and its ability to provide state-of-the-art battlefield computing.' The objective of the Army's FBCB2 and BFT programs is to deliver a digital battle command and control information system that will provide commanders and soldiers at tactical units, from the brigade level to the individual soldier, with access to real-time information, allowing for better command and control decision making and enhanced situational awareness. These digitization programs provide tactical units with information superiority through situational awareness, and, therefore, a battlefield advantage. Information superiority is one of the cornerstones of the DoD's transformation to a more flexible force that fights jointly with other services, allies and coalition partners. These computer systems provide global positioning system location, the ability to track and decipher between friendly and enemy combatants, the ability to interface with terrestrial communication radios, such as the single channel ground and airborne radio system or the enhanced position location reporting system, and the ability to access a satellite communications network. |
