August 11, 2009--BAE Systems (Nashua, NH), in partnership with laser rangefinder company Vectronix (Heerbrugg, Switzerland) will provide U.S. Army soldiers with handheld laser target locators that will enable them to identify target locations while on foot, in daylight or at night, and in obscured-visibility conditions such as fog and smoke (see also "Threat identification demands new imaging technologies").
BAE Systems has partnered with Vectronix to produce, maintain, and provide logistical support for up to 200 laser target locator modules (LTLM) per month under a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $347 million.
"These modules will enable soldiers to determine target coordinates quickly, safely, and accurately," said Dan Murray, LTLM program director for BAE Systems in Nashua, NH. "The system provides a much-needed capability in a single, lightweight package. Removing weight from soldiers' packs makes their jobs easier and enables them to complete missions faster and with greater precision."
Weighing less than 5.5 pounds, the LTLM consists of a direct-view optic system, a night-vision camera derived from the thermal cameras used in
BAE Systems' advanced thermal weapon sights, a laser range finder, a digital compass, and a GPS receiver. The system will allow users to recognize targets more than 4.2 kilometers away in daylight and 900 m in total darkness. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this year.
BAE Systems is a global defense, security, and aerospace company delivering products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded $34.4 billion in 2008.
For more information, go to www.baesystems.com.
--Posted by Gail Overton, [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.