$200m in BAE Systems’ sights

has been awarded $15m to provide thermal imaging sights for the US Army’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station II (CROWS) program.

Under the five-year contract, which could be worth up to $200 million, BAE Systems will manufacture and deliver up to 6,500 TIM1500 thermal sights to Norway’s Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, the supplier of the CROWS II system.

Fitted to any US Army ground vehicle, TIM1500 improves situational awareness by finding targets and performing surveillance at extended ranges.

Under an August 2005 contract valued at approximately $50m, BAE Systems has already provided more than 1,400 TIM1500 units to Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace in support of the US Army Stryker program. Production deliveries under this contract began in November 2005 and are expected to continue through April 2008.