FLIR Systems has received an indefinite delivery and quantity contract from the US Navy for the BRITE Star Block II sensor systems and associated parts and services.
Under the $136.6m firm-fixed-price contract, the company will provide BRITE Star Block II gimbaled electro-optical / infrared imaging systems and BRITE Star I upgrades to support the US Naval Air Systems Command’s UH-1 and vertical takeoff unmanned aerial vehicle programmes.
FLIR will also provide cables, depot repair actions, data, BRITE Star II class I engineering change proposal, provision item order and engineering services.
The BRITE Star II advanced imaging system will offer intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, detection, identification and targeting capability for both manned and unmanned platforms in day or night operations.
Designed to support target designation, armed reconnaissance, surveillance and attack missions, the multi-sensor targeting imager features Laser spot tracker, internal measurement unit and navigation processor, automatic target tracker and diode pumped laser designator.
In addition to ensuring precision geo-pointing and target geo-location, the BRITE Star II system will provide continuous duty cycle, high reliability and long-range performance, compatible with US and NATO laser-guided munitions, such as Hellfire missiles.
Additional features of the system includes five field-of-view (FOV) large format thermal imager, three-chip colour daylight camera with monochrome mode and provides air-to-ground tactical advantage as well as marks locations / targets for NVG equipped forces.
Scheduled to be completed by August 2018, work under the contract is expected to be carried out at the company’s facility in Wilsonville, Oregon, US.
The US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, US will serve as the contracting activity.
Image: a UH-1N Huey helicopter fitted with Brite Star II system. Photo: courtesy of US Marine Corps.
