$13.2M for New M1A2 Abrams Electronics
Nov 03, 2005 08:00 EST
General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI received a $13.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for spare parts for the continuous electronics evolution program for the M1A2 Abrams tank. The M1A2 Systems Enhancement Package (SEP) platform is the latest, most technologically advanced Abrams tank. It has the latest command and control system, second-generation thermal FLIR sights that enhances detection ranges, a Thermal Management System (TMS) to reduce infrared signature, and an improved armor package that includes third generation steel-encased depleted uranium armor.
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Note that these improvements are not the same as the TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) which optimizes the M1A2 for urban warfare, though the upgrades are compatible.
Rather, this contract aligns with the overall M1A2 SEP tank upgrade program to integrate new information technologies, improving the force with enhanced command and control features like color maps and displays, high-density computer memory, increased microprocessing speed and networked communications. It also aligns the M1 Abrams’ equipment with the IBAS thermal sights on the new M2A3 and M3A3 Bradleys, by giving both platforms a common set of thermal sights as part of the Army’s Horizontal Technology Initiative (HTI).
Work on this contract will be performed in Tallahassee, FL (95%), Eynon, PA (4%), and Sterling Heights, MI (1%), and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on May 1, 2004 by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Rock Island, IL (DAAE20-02-G-0009).
