Mature Prototypes to be Delivered for Testing Next Year
FLIR Systems has received a $26 million (€22.2 million) contract modification in support of the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Sensor Suite Upgrade (NBCRV SSU) programme for the U.S. Army, the company announced on 15 October.
Awarded through the Joint Programme Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) the award is a follow-on to a $48 million contract announced in April 2019.
FLIR is the lead integrator in modernising the Army’s NBCRV system with improved and autonomous CBRN sensors. Earlier this year, the company delivered initial prototypes of the NBCRV SSU for a focused assessment at Fort Bliss, TX, where soldiers employed them in realistic battlefield scenarios to sense and rapidly avoid CBRN hazards. The new contract allows FLIR to continue developing the suite and to deliver mature prototypes for government testing next year.
Among other third-party solutions, the NBCRV Sensor Suite will feature capabilities of the FLIR R80D SkyRaider drone, integrated with a specialised version of the FLIR IBAC bio-detection sensor. This next phase will also pair the NBCRV with a ground robotic vehicle to expand the system’s use with manned-unmanned teams. A FLIR-developed C2 system will bring together all devices and platforms with sensor fusion and automation features that lessen the cognitive burden on users and improve decision-making.
“Our ability to build and integrate manned and unmanned sensing solutions across a wide threat space is where FLIR differentiates itself,” commented VP and General Manager of FLIR’s Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions business, Roger Wells. “Incorporating UAV and UGV platforms into NBCRV aligns with our efforts to develop full sensing capabilities that can act as force multipliers and boost mission success for our troops […] Whether through air- or ground-based detection systems, FLIR is uniquely positioned in the defense industry with deep expertise in both intelligent sensor and autonomous systems technology that keeps warfighters safe.”
FLIR is supporting other efforts by JPEO-CBRND. In the past year, the company has won two contracts worth over $55 million to field its FLIR Agentase C2 chemical warfare disclosure spray, formulated to detect nerve agents such as VX and Sarin, as well as blister agents such as sulphur mustard.
