More perimeter systems for Army

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CINCINNATI, April 9 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has been selected by the U.S. Army to provide its upgraded Scorpion ground sensor systems to help protect deployed troops.

Scorpion provides persistent surveillance, remote area monitoring and perimeter security and has been deployed in many areas.

"While Scorpion remains the UGS system of choice in Iraq, Afghanistan and other deployments, Scorpion II's size, weight and wireless performance improvements significantly increase the available mission set for the warfighter," said Martin Simoni, site director of Northrop Grumman's Xetron facility.

"This contract both supports existing systems and enables multiple organizations to combine their requirements for new systems, saving money for the U.S. government."

The monetary value of the contract wasn't disclosed but Northrop Grumman said the contract has a five-year period of performance.

Scorpion II uses seismic, magnetic and/or passive infrared sensors to cue long-range, short-range and point blank-range thermal or day cameras to detect and assess potential threats. It is smaller in size than its predecessor, lighter and uses less power.