Raytheon Co. in McKinney, TX received a $285.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for production of the improved target acquisition system. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX and is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, 2012. This was a sole source contract initiated on Dec. 22, 2005 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-06-C-0490).
ITAS was originally designed to provide an advanced fire control system for the TOW anti-armor missile, significantly increasing target detection, acquisition, recognition and engagement ranges. It also offers upgraded hardware for a 30-year old system, some of whose parts are no longer produced. An October 4, 2006 Raytheon release notes that this five-year contract continues Army procurement of the systems, and marks the start of U.S. Marine Corps acquisition. Our June 2005 article provides more information re: TOW-ITAS, including its use in battle as a pure reconnaissance device.
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group in Pasadena, CA received a $154.3 million increment as part of a $1.04 billion cost-plus-award-fee contract for continued chemical agency neutralization operations leading to the closure of the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, IN. Work is expected to be complete by May 31, 2009. There were 32 bids solicited on March 9, 1998, and 2 bids were received by the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL (DAAA09-99-C-0016).
The units of USAF Space Command have a wide range of functions, from supervising Space Shuttle launches to maintaining surveillance satellites and radars, operating America’s land-based nuclear missiles, and conducting ballistic missile defense.
Over the last couple of weeks, a number of contracts have been issued for various support services to these entities. We thought our readers might appreciate a look at several of these contracts at once, rather than just presenting them on a contract by contract basis.
The diagnostic systems cover the tank’s laser rangefinder and thermal imaging devices as well as a complete mobile testing kit for electronic, optical and optronic components. Rheinmetall will also supply additional technology for the existing depot testing facility at Velestino, Greece. These systems can be used to test Greece’s entire tank fleet, from its ancient M-48s and its Leopard 1 tanks to its modern Leopard 2s.
