DRS Technologies has received a $14 million order to produce next-generation lightweight thermal weapon sights (TWS II) for U.S. Army ground force applications. DRS received the order from the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) in Fort Monmouth, N.J. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in February 2007 and to continue through December 2008.

This order is part of a competitively secured five-year contract awarded to DRS in March 2004. The contract has a total potential value of $375 million, including options.

DRS will produce light thermal weapon sights and thermal imaging modules (TIMs), using advanced microbolometer-based infrared technology. The DRS family of light, medium and heavy TWS will provide U.S. Army soldiers and armament crews with greater range of threat detection and a wider field of view at a reduced cost. Providing superior image quality, greater battery life, a user-friendly menu structure and light weight, these sights will better equip war fighters to see the battlefield under vision-obscured conditions and to engage the enemy. The Light TWS produced by DRS will mount onto M4 and M16 assault rifles. The TIMs will be used for handheld laser rangefinder day/night binoculars, supporting the Target Acquisition Laser Observation Night (TALON) program.

Similar next-generation thermal weapon sights produced by DRS have broad application for various missions of U.S. military services, including the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Special Operations, in addition to the Army. The company's thermal weapon sights product line also is applicable to homeland defense initiatives supporting first responders and government customs and border control/protection agencies, in addition to private security companies, and domestic law enforcement agencies.