Army orders more thermal weapons sights

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Raytheon has won a contract modification from the U.S. Army to provide enhanced thermal weapons sights, the company announced.

The contract for new deliveries has a potential value of $131 million and extends the original award by three years.

Raytheon said the contract was competitively awarded and its ability to deliver cost-effective, advanced technology was a key factor in winning the award.

"This is just one example of how Raytheon is putting rugged lightweight thermal imaging technology in soldiers' hands to deliver clear targeting and surveillance imagery, significantly increasing survivability," said Jeff Miller, vice president of Combat and Sensing Systems. "Our troops are getting equipment with improved detection ranges and the ability to operate effectively day or night."

Raytheon has provided 65,000 thermal weapon sights to the Army since 2000. It said that modification will allow it to supply as many as 24,000 sights, which will be produced in McKinney, Texas.