FLIR Systems has been awarded a $26 million Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement modification to support the U.S. Army’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Sensor Suite Upgrade (NBCRV SSU) program.
“Our ability to build and integrate manned and unmanned sensing solutions across a wide threat space is where FLIR differentiates itself,” said VP and GM of the Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions business at FLIR, 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.
FLIR will serve as the lead integrator under the OTA. The company will work to modernize the Army’s NBCRV system with improved and autonomous CBRN sensors. FLIR recently delivered initial prototypes of the NBCRV SSU system for a focused assessment.
The FLIR prototype has sensed and rapidly avoided CBRN hazards in realistic battlefield simulations. With the OTA, FLIR will continue to develop the Sensor Suite and to deliver mature prototypes for government testing in 2021. The NBCRV Sensor Suite will deliver capabilities of the FLIR R80D SkyRaider drone and integrate a specialized version of the FLIR IBAC bio-detection sensor.
Under the next phase of development, FLIR will also combine the NBCRV with a ground robotic vehicle to expand the system’s use with manned-unmanned teams, which will feature automation to reduce the cognitive burden on users and improve decision-making.
Work on the NBCRV program has begun and is expected to continue through 2022 at FLIR facilities in West Lafayette, Indiana; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Elkridge, Maryland.
“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,” Wells added.
The OTA was awarded through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) as a follow-on to a $48 million contract announced in April 2019.
About FLIR Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1978, FLIR Systems is a world-leading industrial technology company focused on intelligent sensing solutions for defense and industrial applications. FLIR Systems’ vision is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense,” creating technologies to help professionals make more informed decisions that save lives and livelihoods.
