U-TacS, of Elbit Systems and Thales, wins $70 million follow-on order to provide ISTAR capability for UK Armed Forces

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

HAIFA, Israel, 25 Oct. 2010. UAS Tactical Systems Ltd. (U-TacS), a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. and Thales UK, won from Thales UK a follow-on Urgent Operating Capability (UOR) contract worth approximately $70 million to provideIntelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) support capability for the U.K. Armed Forces. The contract will be performed over the next one and a half years.

This contract includes the provision and support of Hermes 450 unmanned aerial systems (UASs), as well as training for U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff in the use and maintenance of the system, and the provision of contractor logistic support (CLS) and program management services. This work will be managed by U-TacS located in Leicester, U.K.

The president and CEO of Elbit Systems, Joseph Ackerman, says: "Hermes 450 continues to make a significant contribution to U.K. operations, under very demanding circumstances, achieving exceptionally high levels of operational availability."

U-TacS is held 51 percent by Elbit Systems with the balance being owned by Thales UK.