AAI Wins Contract for Laser Designator Kits

AAI, a Textron company, announced that it has received a $70.7 million contract from the U.S. Army for laser designator kits. AAI will deliver 61 boresight tools and 142 laser designator payloads. AAI manufactures aerospace and defense systems. Textron specializes in industrial, aircraft and defense businesses.

The laser designator kits will be incorporated onto the Marine Corps and Army’s Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems. A single Shadow aircraft equipped with the laser designator payload can assign targets for laser-guided weapons. The new functionality serves as a force multiplier, while maximizing the tactical options of a commander. AAI anticipates that delivery will begin in 2011 and will extend till 2012.

AAI’s VP of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Steven Reid stated that the laser designation feature allows Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems to help the company’s consumers in the field. He added that AAI is continuously exploring enhancements similar to laser designators to aid warfighters to finish missions safely and resolutely.