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TBS is used for medium to long-range observation and
reconnaissance. The binocular, hand-held, battery-operated thermal
imager to be used by field commanders and squad leaders. TBS will
provide Marines commanders a Tactical Range Thermal Imager (TRTI)
solution, augmenting the night vision equipment currently used,
which can be employed only at night. When deployed with the USMC
service, TBS will be augmented by the Long Range Thermal Imagers, LRTI
to be delivered by Kollsman Inc under a parallel program. LRTI is
expected to field with the corps' observation and recon units.
In September 2005 the Pentagon awarded DRS Technologies a $46
million contract for the delivery of 3,624 Thermal Binocular
System (TBS) units. Total systems procurement covering TBS and
LRTIs could reach $660 million over a five year, if all options are exercised. |
