The US Army announced it has selected FLIR Systems to produce the common robotic system – heavy, or CRS-H, (pronounced “Chris-H”) to bolster EOD soldiers’ protection by increasing standoff to interrogate hazardous devices.
This modernized capability is slated to begin deliveries in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, under a contract valued at $109 million.
The Army plans to buy 248 of the systems.
This is the second important production contract award for Army robotics programs of record in as many weeks. The Army also announced in late October the small multipurpose equipment transport (S-MET) production contract award. S-MET will lighten soldiers’ loads by providing infantry brigade combat teams a robotic “mule” capability.
“The Army is modernizing robotic and autonomous capabilities with a family of enduring systems that leverage the best of available commercial technology critical to giving soldiers overmatch in future contingencies,” explained Timothy G. Goddette, the Army’s program executive officer for Combat Support & Combat Service Support.
CRS-H’s basic operational capabilities include a manipulator arm lift capacity of 275 lbs while its close to platform, and 100 lbs with the 72-inch extension. It weighs less than 700 lbs without payloads.
CRS-H’s special features will provide enhanced capability to detect, identify, access, render safe, exploit, and achieve final disposition of heavy explosive ordnance, including improvised explosive devices, vehicle borne IEDs, and weapons of mass destruction at safe standoff.
Following delivery in fiscal year 2020, the Army will complete additional logistics requirements, including maintainer manuals and field level maintainer new equipment training necessary to achieve full materiel release in fiscal year 2021.
