Northrop Grumman Gets U.S Army Contract For Main Battle Tank Laser Rangefinder

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a contract from the U.S. Army to deliver Eyesafe Laser Rangefinders (ELRF) to be installed on the M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank.

Under the terms of the approximately $20 million contract, Northrop Grumman’s Laser Systems business unit will provide more than 500 rangefinder systems beginning in late 2007.

The ELRF is a highly accurate, hardened system for the fire control sight in the Abrams Main Battle Tank. The ELRF gives the tank gunner the ability to determine target ranges in all battlefield conditions including fog, smoke, dust, sand and haze. Additionally, the rangefinder allows U.S. forces to train safely against each other.

“The ELRF Main Battle Tank rangefinder has been used successfully by the U.S. Army for a number of years and has proven its accuracy and effectiveness most recently during combat in Iraq,” said Gregory Williams, general manager of the company’s Laser Systems business unit. “Giving our tank crews the ability to fire in all conditions with precision gives them a big advantage on the battlefield. Being able to see and determine the enemy’s position, when they can’t see you, is an ideal situation.”