$48M to DRS for OH-58D Mast Mounted Sights

OH-58D over Tal Afar
(click to view full)

DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems – Optronics Division in Melbourne and Palm Bay, FL recently announced $48 million (36 + 12 million) in orders from U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. The orders cover FY 2008 electro-optical design and engineering, manufacturing, provision of spare parts, field service support, and general depot repairs for the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) systems installed on OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters, which have seen very heavy use in the current war. See esp. DRS’ explanations of the battlefield benefits of mast-mounted helicopter sights vs. roof-mounted alternatives

This year’s orders are part of a current five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract that has a maximum value in excess of $700 million. Since the beginning of this indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract in December 2003, DRS has been awarded approximately $276 million from AMCOM to produce and maintain MMS systems; DID also covered the $33 million February 2006 order.