Army picks two for driver’s vision devices

The Army has awarded contracts to DRS Technologies and BAE Systems to fulfill orders for infrared driver’s vision enhancers (DVEs) through an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a $1.9 billion ceiling.

The Army Communications and Electronics Command, based at Fort Monmouth, N.J., made the award on behalf of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Special Operations Command.

Drivers of combat and tactical-wheeled vehicles use DVEs to maneuver in severely degraded visual conditions resulting from weather or battlefield events, such as smoke, fog and sand. DVEs, which feature infrared imaging and display technologies, help users detect and navigate in either day or night under obscured visual conditions.

DRS plans to deliver four versions of the vision enhancers, company officials said today. They are:

• DVE Lite for line-haul truck and tactical vehicle applications in supply roles.
• DVE CV for combat vehicles.
• DVE TWV, with electronic pan and tilt modules, for tactical wheeled vehicles.
• DVE TWV, with a forward activity detection system, for surveillance and detection of suspicious activities such as planting roadside bombs.

DRS has supplied the military with DVEs since 2004, the officials said. The company is owned by Italy’s Finmeccanica group.