FLIR wins bid to provide Army tower sensors

The Army has gone to FLIR Systems for another block of sensor units for its Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment surveillance tower systems. On Dec. 31, the Army awarded FLIR a $20 million firm, fixed-price contract for Star SAFIRE III sensors and related cables and hardware.

Star SAFIRE III is a long-range electro-optical and infrared sensor system that, in addition to its use in the RAID program, is part of the U.S. Navy’s Shipboard Protection System (SPS). It can carry up to seven different sensor payloads in its aimable pod. The first Star SAFIRE were delivered to the Royal Danish Navy in 1993.

According to Craig Stoehr, director of investor relations for FLIR Systems, the latest contract is part of a larger indefinite-duration, indefinite-quantity contract with the Army. FLIR would not disclose the number of STAR SAFIRE III systems purchased by the Army thus far under the contract.