BAE SYSTEMS SUPPORTING U.S. ARMY'S OBJECTIVE FORCE WARRIOR (OFW)

BAE SYSTEMS will help the U.S. Army develop revolutionary systems capabilities for future soldiers.

BAE SYSTEMS Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) business unit, Nashua, New Hampshire, recently received a $5 million subcontract for the Army's Objective Force Warrior. OFW is the Army's flagship Science and Technology initiative to transform its service to a soldier-centric force.

Under the 25-month Phase II contract with Eagle Enterprise Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Dynamics Corporation, the BAE SYSTEMS unit will:

· Support OFW "System of Systemsâ€? design and integration for Unattended Ground Sensors, Leave Behind Sensors, and mini/micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,
· Develop software for a data fusion engine, and
· Support OFW Systems Requirements Analysis and Verification for Unattended Sensors.

Earlier this summer, the Army announced its selection of General Dynamics as the Lead Technology Integrator for the Objective Force Warrior Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program.

The OFW program seeks to create a lightweight, overwhelmingly lethal, fully integrated individual combat system - including weapon, head-to-toe individual protection, netted communications, soldier-worn power sources, and enhanced human performance. Further, the advanced science and technology program may provide these capabilities while reducing an individual soldier's physical load by 50 percent - down to less than 50 pounds.

"Our soldiers going into any situation - from high intensity conflicts to peacekeeping missions - deserve the best possible systems for their protection and mission accomplishment,� said Aaron Penkacik, vice president of IEWS' Advanced Systems and Technology organisation. "BAE SYSTEMS is committed to providing sensor fusion and netted sensor interfaces that are vital to the success of Objective Force Warrior.�

Objective Force Warrior is one prong of a transformational strategy to enable the Army to "see first, understand first, act first, and finish decisively� in all aspects of armed conflict - from major theater war through peacekeeping missions and homeland security. OFW complements the other pillar - Future Combat Systems (FCS) - and the two will be fully compatible and integrated.

IEWS' Washington Technology Office will be responsible for BAE SYSTEMS contributions to the Phase II contract.