The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Qioptiq, an Excelitas Technologies Company, a $100 million Surveillance and Target Acquisition–Support (STAS) contract to provide support for targeting and surveillance equipment to the U.K. Armed Forces over the next six years. Assembly technician inspects components of Qioptiq thermal weapon sight components in St. Asaph, U.K. before final assembly. Courtesy of Qioptiq. The STAS deal with Qioptiq includes the repair and maintenance of 53 types of battle-winning handheld and weapon/helmet mounted equipment — including night-vision goggles and day and night weapon sights — over the next six years. Technology in these systems is Thermal (IR) and Image Intensified (NV). The contract has options for an additional five years of support, which could increase the contract by another $84 million. "This selection will allow us to continue the mission of ensuring STA equipment is available to the end user when needed," Doug Benner, Excelitas executive vice president of defense and aerospace said. "Whether serving defense ministries around the world or meeting the critical requirements of the world’s largest defense prime contractors, Excelitas’ Defense and Aerospace mission is ‘Keeping our Troops Safe’ with the best technology, products, and services." The contract covers equipment used across the U.K. Armed Forces, delivering capability to all front line commands. Excelitas’s Qioptiq Land Business Group currently supplies thermal, image intensified and fused (IR-NV) handheld, weapon and helmet-mounted equipment to 56 countries globally for a wide range of defense, police, border security, coastguard and search and rescue applications.