QinetiQ North America announces new orders for TALON robots and parts totalling $58.5 million

2,500 TALON robots are now deployed around the world, principally to detect and disable roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

QinetiQ North America today announced that its Technology Solutions Group has been awarded a total of $58.5 million in funding for additional TALON robots and replacement parts. The total represents awards from the US Army and Navy made during the six-month period 1 May to 1 November 2008.

The new delivery orders include $48 million against the new $400 million IDIQ (indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity) contract awarded last May by the Robotic Systems Joint Program Office (RSJPO) administered by the Program Executive Office – Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI) and $10.5 million against the $295 million IDIQ awarded by the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV).

A total of 2,500 TALON robots are now deployed around the world, with a significant number of them in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are used primarily to assist military personnel with the extremely dangerous job of detecting and disabling roadside bombs – the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by hostile forces to attack troops. TALON robots have been used in more than 100,000 counter-IED missions to date, saving countless lives in the process.

“TALON continues to play a vital role in the defeat of roadside bombs and IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Dr. William Ribich, President of the Technology Solutions Group. “In addition, our soldiers and marines are constantly exploring new ways to deploy the robots and maintain their own safe standoff distances in all types of challenging situations. We’re pleased that the partnership of soldier and TALON is proving to be so durable and successful.”

The mid-size TALON robot is the mainstay of the family of TALON robots developed by QinetiQ North America in response to the needs of military customers.