DRS Gets $38M Contract for Sensors to Improve Weather Forecasting, Warnings

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 15 -- Military and space contractor DRS Technologies Inc. announced today it was awarded new contracts valued at $38 million to develop infrared sensors for next-generation imaging systems used on future geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES). Operated and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the direction of NASA, these satellites will gather infrared and radar data to help improve routine weather forecasting and provide early warnings for severe weather systems.

For these awards, DRS will design and develop infrared sensors for five flight units supporting next-generation geostationary weather satellites and will provide focal-plane array (FPA) sensor modules for the GOES advanced baseline imager (ABI). Initial funding of $8.2 million was received by DRS from ITT Industries Inc.'s Space Systems Div., located in Fort Wayne, Ind. Work for these orders will be accomplished by the DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems unit in Cypress, Calif. Delivery of the sensors is expected to begin in 2007 and continue through 2009, following the delivery of the fourth flight unit.

DRS-produced infrared sensors and FPAs will be integrated into the ABI to provide advanced imaging capabilities across the entire range of visible light to long-wavelength regions. The ABI is an advanced version of the imaging system used in current GOES weather satellites. The next-generation version is expected to provide increased detail and visual images of weather systems, improved spatial resolution, increased spectral resolution and faster Earth coverage rates to improve forecasting ability and monitor severe weather systems. The first in a series of launches is scheduled to take place in 2012, beginning with the GOES-R mission.

For more information, visit: www.drs.com