8 Apr 02. Radstone Technology, of the UK, has been awarded an initial production contract for more than $3m by General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., USA to supply its rugged Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) computer technology for the Abrams Battle Tank M1A2 Continuous Electronics Enhancement Program(CEEP).
CEEP is part of the Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) and will integrate new technologies that will reduce future obsolescence issues and take advantage of improved processing and display capabilities.
Radstone is integrating its latest generation rugged COTS Power PC Processor, Graphics and Communications products, enabling General Dynamics to take full advantage of the latest microprocessor and display technologies and significant performance benefits that have occurred since the original M1A2 effort. The system will also address obsolescence issues and provide equally significant reductions in life-cycle costs.
The new General Purpose Processor (GPP) and on-board mezzanines will allow for improved capabilities in both crew operations and vehicle diagnostics.
This initial order will cover the upgrade of approximately 50 Abrams M1A2 tanks. Over 2000 tanks are currently in service with the US Army and other nations.
John F. Rank, Director – Material Acquisition, General Dynamics Land Systems stated that “the Abrams continuous electronics enhancement program will sustain the US Army’s main battle tank core electronics architecture well into the next decade. A selection of Radstone Technology’s general purpose processors were chosen on a best value and technical performance criteria.”
Commenting on the win, Radstone’s Managing Director, Peter Cavill, said: “We are delighted that General Dynamics Land Systems has selected Radstone to work with them on this important upgrade program. It is a strong endorsement of Radstone’s Whole Program Life COTS philosophy, which delivers leading-edge products, technology insertion and safeguards against obsolescence, helping system integrators to meet the demands of performance, cost and timescale in large development projects”.
Work is expected to be completed on the CEEP program by 2006.