DRS to help Army get rugged for Blue Force

DRS Technologies Inc. will deliver rugged computers that support the Army's Blue Force Tracking system to the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below program under a new $19.6 million contract.

The Parsippany, N.J., company will provide Appliqué Computer Systems and peripheral equipment to the Army. The order was placed by the Army's Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

The DRS Tactical Systems unit will produce the computer systems. The systems support the Army's Blue Force Tracking and are being installed on more than 40 types of Army and Marine Corps wheeled and tracked vehicles, at tactical operations centers and at other command post platforms.

The objective of the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below program is to develop a digital battle command and control information system that will provide commanders and soldiers at tactical units, from the brigade level to the individual soldier, with access to real-time information, allowing for better command and control decision making and enhanced situational awareness.

The common and interoperable Appliqué computer systems will provide the tactical units with global positioning system capabilities, the ability to track and decipher between friendly and enemy combatants via a combat identification system, and the ability to interface with terrestrial communication radios. What's more, they also can access a satellite communications system.

DRS Technologies ranks No. 30 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.