Leonardo DRS, Inc.(DRS) announced today that it has received contracts to provide its advanced thermal weapon sights for the Swedish Ministry of Defense (MOD). The firm-fixed-price contracts are worth approximately $50 million.
The DRS Electro-Optical Infrared Systems (EOIS) business will provide more than 4,600 thermal weapon sights including Individual Weapon Sight (IWS) and Individual Weapon Sight- Long Range (IWSLR) variants. The DRS EOIS production team in Melbourne FL, delivered over 1100 weapons sights to the Swedish Ministry of Defense within 30 days of contract receipt.
The IWS family provides the ability to acquire targets day or night and in smoke or fog and gives the operator both stand-alone and clip-on options. This significantly increases survivability and lethality on the battlefield. The IWS was designed for small arms, shoulder fire weapons and light machine guns, while the IWSLR was designed for heavy machine guns and Sniper applications.
This contract represents the start of a relationship in providing our thermal weapon sights to the Swedish Ministry of Defense to increase protection and effectiveness of their dismounted forces. We are proud that this important U.S. ally continues to recognize the strength and commitment we put behind our industry-leading EOIR products from demonstration and testing to rapid delivery.
Jerry Hathaway, senior vice president and general manager of the DRS Electro-Optical Infrared Systems business
The contracts were awarded to DRS partner Leonardo GmbH in Germany as the prime contractor. Through multiple orders, the Swedish MOD ordered more than 3100 individual thermal weapon sights and 1,500 long-range thermal weapon sights.
The DRS EOIS business is part of the advanced sensing and computing segment, which has an extensive installed base across the U.S. military. Sensing technology is a key strategic focus for DRS as the company brings together its world-leading sensing and laser technologies for the U.S military and allied militaries around the world.
Production of the weapon sights was completed in the company’s Electro-Optical Infrared Systems facilities in Melbourne, Florida and Dallas, Texas.
Source: Leonardo DRS news release
