QinetiQ subsidiary Foster-Miller announces additional $26M funding for 151 more TALON robots

Foster-Miller Inc, a wholly owned QinetiQ subsidiary, announced today that it has received an additional $26 million from the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV) in Indian Head, MD, for 151 more TALON® EOD robots and spare parts. This brings the total funding actually released to $109 million against the six-year, $257 million IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract Foster-Miller initially announced in September 2005.

"The Government has ordered the additional TALON® MTRS (man-transportable robotic system) robots as part of its ongoing effort to get this lifesaving equipment into the hands of our soldiers as rapidly as possible,â€? said Dr William Ribich, president and CEO of Foster-Miller. "We just shipped them our 1,000th TALON® robot at the end of March. Foster-Miller will begin filling the new order for 151 more TALON® robots this month and expects to complete the order during the summer.â€?

NAVEODTECHDIV is the single service manager for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and purchases EOD robots for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. Countless lives have been saved through the use of these robots, and they are now viewed as essential equipment in the ongoing struggle to defeat IEDs (improvised explosive devices).