Boeing announced that it received a contract from the U.S. Army for low-rate initial production of the initial brigade set of Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) Increment 1 capabilities. Under the $138 million, fixed-price contract, a team led by Boeing with support from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) will equip the first Infantry Brigade Combat Team with these networked capabilities, along with associated system engineering and program management support.
"These capabilities are needed today by soldiers conducting combat operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere," said Gregg Martin, Boeing Network & Tactical Systems vice president and BCTM program manager. "We are excited to begin production and look forward to working with our Army customer to get these capabilities, which reflect lessons learned from current operations, into the hands of soldiers as soon as possible."
As the prime contractor, Boeing is responsible for the development and production of BCTM Increment 1. Low-rate initial production will allow for the capabilities to be fielded to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division for initial operational test and evaluation beginning in 2011.
The contract award follows a successful production review by the Defense Acquisition Board in December.
A key element of BCTM, Increment 1 will provide soldiers with enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as increased survivability and lethality. The capabilities that will be produced under this contract award include:
- Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle: a robotic system capable of reconnaissance missions in dangerous or difficult situations such as entering buildings, caves and tunnels
- Class I Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV): a small, soldier-operated UAV that can hover for reconnaissance and surveillance while providing target acquisition
- Unattended Ground Sensors: multi-mode surveillance sensors for target detection, location and classification, with an imaging capability for identification
- Network Integration Kit: an integrated computer system that hosts the latest communications and radio systems and battle command software, providing the initial network connectivity needed to transfer sensor and communication data
SAIC is a Fortune 500 scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company's approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2009.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space, & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
