DRS picked for advanced display work

Defense technology company DRS Technologies Inc. won orders totaling about $30 million to supply and service advanced display systems to the Navy.

The systems will be installed on the Navy's new Aegis destroyers, cruisers and other surface ships, the company said this week. They also will be installed on E-2C Hawkeye aircraft and USS Los Angeles class SSN 688 attack submarines. System workstations are being installed throughout the Navy's surface, subsurface and air fleets.

The contracts were awarded to DRS by Lockheed Martin Corp.'s maritime systems and sensors tactical systems unit in Eagan, Minn. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the program, known as AN/UYQ-70.

DRS has worked with the Bethesda, Md.-based defense contractor on the program since the Navy awarded the original contract in 1994 and recompeted it in 1998 and 2004. The two companies will continue to work on the program for the next five years under a sole-source, follow-on contract.

DRS is producing display consoles that integrate commercial computing technology and systems for combat, command and control and mission-essential applications.

DRS Laurel Technologies unit of Johnstown, Penn., will produce the commercial off-the-shelf-based systems, while its electronic systems unit in Gaithersburg, Md., will upgrade key technologies for existing advanced display systems and related peripherals.

DRS of Parsippany, N.J., develops and manufactures a wide range of mission critical systems. The company employs 5,800 people and had revenue of $1 billion for fiscal 2004.