Leonardo DRS to supply thermal imagery technology for US Army’s CROWS

Leonardo DRS has been awarded a contract to supply advanced thermal imagery technology for the US Army’s remote combat vehicle weapon stations.

Valued at around $9.4m, the contract was awarded by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

The full-rate production contract will see Leonardo DRS Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems business produce the Thermal Sight 3rd Generation (TS III) for installation on Kongsberg’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) on combat vehicles.

TS III will enable weapon operators to engage targets from the vehicle.

Leonardo DRS Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems business senior vice-president and general manager Jerry Hathaway said: “We are proud to continue to provide this important technology that gives our warfighters advanced sighting through tough environmental conditions on the battlefield to keep them safe and complete their mission.

“The reliability and affordability of this system is another advantage we deliver for our customer.”

The advanced technology will deliver improved thermal imagery in both clear and difficult battlefield conditions.

With three separate apertures, TS III will provide gunners with the capability to engage targets at maximum range.

Leonardo DRS will perform work under the contract at its facilities in Melbourne, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. The completion of the contracted work is expected to take place next year.

In a separate development, the company won a contract worth more than $89m to produce advanced infrared weapon sights for the US Army.

The contract is part of an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract secured by Leonardo DRS to deliver the Family of Weapon Sight-Individual (FWS-I) technology.

Hathaway said: “We have a long history of supplying the army with advanced EOIR technologies, and this award demonstrates that our customers know soldiers are getting the best product to ensure their mission is accomplished.”