PALM BAY, Fla., 25 Aug. 2005. Optoelectronics experts from DRS Optronics Inc. in Palm Bay, Fla., are building additional target-acquisition and missile-control subsystems for the U.S. Army M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
DRS Optronics will provide the Improved Bradley Acquisition System (IBAS) missile weapon system under terms of a $15.8 million delivery order announced Aug. 24.
The order for additional IBAS units is part of a $26.9 million contract awarded from the Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The contract number is W31P4Q-05-D-0026.
IBAS has a second-generation, forward-looking infrared (FLIR); thermal sight; target-designator; dual-target tracking; eye-safe laser range finder; automatic gun-target adjustment; automatic optical alignment; and hunter-killer capability.
The IBAS imager, based on a 480-by-4-pixel scanning infrared focal plane array, also has day TV, direct-view optics, and two-axis stabilized head mirror.
Its second-generation FLIR allows the Bradley commander or gunner to identify and acquire targets beyond the range off the vehicle's weapon systems.
The IBAS enables the user to acquire, recognize, identify, and automatically track two targets within the same field of view at a selected magnification, day or night.
While moving or standing still, the M2A3 Bradley can use the IBAS to control its 25 mm or 7.62 mm guns to engage either of two targets appearing in the same field of view
While stationary, the M2A3 Bradley can use IBAS to control its tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile system to engage either of two targets appearing in the same field of view.
Work on this delivery order will be at DRS facilities in Palm Bay, Fla., and in Dallas, and will be finished in August 2008. For more information contact DRS online at www.drs.com.
