ST. LOUIS, Mo., 18 August 2005. Engineered Support Systems, Inc. has received a $7 million contract from the Commonwealth of Australia to develop a Multi-Spectral Sensor Suite (MSSS) to be used with the Australian Light Armored Vehicle (ASLAV).
Engineered Support's Systems & Electronics Inc. (SEI) subsidiary will design, develop and test the MSSS in their St. Louis and West Plains, Mo. facilities, then deliver it to the Defence Material Organization's Land Maneuver Systems Branch in Melbourne, Australia.
The MSSS is a reconnaissance and surveillance package consisting of a laser rangefinder, thermal imager, and ground surveillance radar integrated with SEI's stabilized common gimbal (SCG-100) and soldier machine interface.
The MSSS will be capable of three modes of operation: mounted on the vehicle, connected to the vehicle by a cable, and completely dismounted. The package will also be compatible with operation on a 10-meter mast currently in service with the ASLAV-Surveillance (ASLAV-S) variant. The MSSS package will be designed as a kit for installation on the ASLAV-S by the Australian Defence Forces. The kit is adaptable to a wide range of wheeled and tracked vehicles.
The prototype system will begin Australian Defence Force testing in the fall of 2006. The development activity is expected to last 21 months with the potential for a follow-on production award in 2007 under Stage 2 of the program, said Engineered Support's vice chairman and CEO, Gerald A. Potthoff.
"This order gives our company the opportunity to provide reconnaissance and surveillance technology that can be leveraged by and contribute to the capabilities of the Australian Defence Forces," Potthoff said. "We're pleased about our growing relationship with the Australian military and this expansion of our presence in the international marketplace."
Engineered Support Systems, Inc. provides advanced sustainment solutions including the design, manufacture and supply of integrated military electronics, support equipment and technical and logistics services for all branches of America's armed forces and certain foreign militaries, homeland security forces and selected government and intelligence agencies. The company also produces specialized equipment and systems for commercial and industrial applications. For more information, see www.engineeredsupport.com.
