DRS Awarded $913 M For Logistic Support On Kiowa Warrior MMS

(Parsippany, N.J., February 4) -- DRS Technologies, Inc., A Finmeccanica Company, announced today that it has received a new contract not to exceed $913 million for logistic support of Mast-Mounted Sights (MMS) on OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters. Awarded by the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, the contract covers spare components, depot repairs, field service, forward repair activities (FRAs), program-management and engineering services to support warfighters both in the U.S. and on the battlefield.

As a follow-on to the previous contract in effect from 2003 through 2008, this new Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract covers spares, repairs and services ordered from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2013, including obsolescence removal - essential to keeping the MMS operational as, over time, various component suppliers stop producing critical parts.


"Fielding of this aircraft may be complete," said Bob Klaver, RSTA vice president of Aviation and Depot Services, "but continued safety and performance improvements have kept the Kiowa Warrior a safe, effective and critically important weapon in the U.S. Army's arsenal."

The MMS plays a vital role in this strategy, he said. It lets pilots and crews scan the battlefield to acquire, identify and engage targets over great distances - up to the maximum range of their weapons systems and with minimum exposure to enemy threats. Its electro-optical infrared technology and mast-mounted configuration enables fighting even when visibility is virtually zero because of darkness, smoke, dust, or adverse weather conditions. And it allows the helicopter to remain concealed until just seconds before engagement.

"We're proud of the contribution that the MMS is making to our armed forces," said RSTA president Terry Murphy. "First, it supports the critical need for ready access to proven weapons at a known price, imperative in this era of tightening military budgets. Second, and even more important, MMS supports the most crucial mission of all - keeping our warfighters both safe and effective."

Source : DRS Technologies Inc., A Finmeccanica Company (Milan: FNC.MI)