U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics $2.7 Million to Develop 'Mounted Warrior' Soldier System
U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics $2.7 Million to Develop 'Mounted Warrior' Soldier System
Wednesday April 27, 4:26 pm ET
- Designed for Combat Vehicle Crew Members, Initial Phase to Include Dismounted Voice Communications and Tethered Video/Data Capability
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics C4 Systems two contracts with a combined value of $2.7 million to develop and equip an advanced combat helmet system with integrated wireless voice communication capabilities for combat vehicle crewmen. Named "Mounted Warrior," the system will provide additional capabilities when tethered to a combat vehicle, such as the ability to see operational data and video on a helmet-mounted display. Initially, Mounted Warrior will be integrated with the Stryker eight-wheeled armored combat vehicle. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD - News).
The first contract, valued at $500,000, funds the initial planning effort for Mounted Warrior that will provide equipment to a Stryker battalion for operational evaluation. The second contract, for $2.2 million, provides the Army with 165 helmet-mounted displays for installation into an in-theater Stryker battalion for operational feedback.
"Along with the two-way cordless voice communication, the Mounted Warrior system will enable crew members to get several views of the operational situation," said Mark Showah, director of Intelligent Network Systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems. "For example, the crew member can pop out of a vehicle's hatch and switch the helmet-mounted display to show real-time data and video from multiple sources."
Mounted Warrior is being developed and delivered using a spiral approach, which enables faster deployment of capabilities. Spiral 1, designed for use in a Stryker combat vehicle, includes integrating the advanced combat helmet; cordless voice communications; improved sun, wind and dust goggles; and a rechargeable battery that is powered through a connection to the vehicle power supply. Future spirals will be configured for use in a wide variety of Army vehicles and will enable integrated wireless voice, data and video communications.
The General Dynamics Mounted Warrior team includes Microvision (Bothell, Wash.), a leader in light-scanning technologies for display and imaging. Microvision (Nasdaq: MVIS - News) will provide the helmet-mounted display systems for the Army's Mounted Warrior program.
General Dynamics C4 Systems leads the Mounted Warrior, Land Warrior and Air Warrior programs, which are managed by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office -- Soldier. All three systems are designed to provide significant improvements in soldier lethality, survivability, mobility and sustainability.
General Dynamics C4 Systems is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology. With more than 9,000 employees worldwide, the company specializes in command and control, communications networking, space systems, computing and information assurance for defense, government and select commercial customers in the United States and abroad.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 70,100 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company is available on the Internet at http://www.generaldynamics.com.
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