ARLINGTON, Va. -- BAE Systems has been awarded two new contracts to fit additional protection kits to more than 800 Bradley fighting vehicles at military bases in the United States and deployed in combat.

The contracts, initially worth $27.6 million, have the potential to increase to over $55 million.

The order will apply urban survivability kits – which include advanced survivability seats, hot box restraint kits and fire suppression kits – to 328 Bradleys and heat abatement kits to an additional 476 Bradleys.

“Urban combat poses a host of new challenges, but these kits – with seats designed to resist blasts from roadside bombs, improvements in internal stowage and features to suppress vehicle fires – can help save lives,” said Andy Hove, vice president of Combat Systems Programs. “BAE Systems will continue to engineer the Bradley to offer maximum protection and we are already working on the next series of modifications to protect the soldiers serving in harm’s way.”

Delivery of the kits is anticipated to begin in November 2008 and be completed by May 2009.

Bradley Combat Systems continues to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in close-combat urban situations as well as in open-combat. The Bradley fulfils five critical mission roles – infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, battle command vehicle and engineer squad vehicle – for the Army's Heavy Brigade Combat Teams.

BAE Systems
24.10.2008