BAE Systems yesterday said it would purchase material items in preparation for the conversion of 245 Bradley Operation Desert Storm Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) vehicles through a $270 million Army contract.
The company will use the items it buys to upgrade the vehicles to have improved situational awareness ability, which highlights BAE’s robust support and technical services capabilities in supporting customers’ requirements.
“As one of the most survivable vehicles in theater, the Bradley has remained a vital asset to our armed forces for several decades,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE. “The items purchased through this contract will help ensure that our soldiers are operating a vehicle that has updated technological enhancements and capabilities.”
The Bradley ODS-SA vehicle features the latest digitized electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity and communication within the Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Bradley ODS-SA’s proven durability and commonality of design reduces the logistics burden, while enhancing battlefield performance to meet a variety of mission requirements.
The contract for material procurement, issued by Army Contracting Command-Warren, has been awarded in advance of the Bradley ODS-SA vehicle conversions effort, anticipated to take place at the beginning of 2012.
The work will be performed by the existing workforce at BAE’s facilities in York and Fayette, Pa., and is anticipated to be complete in April 2014 if all options are exercised. A portion of the vehicle teardown efforts will be performed at the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles fulfill five critical mission roles–infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, command vehicle, and engineer squad vehicle for the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams.