Oregon-based FLIR Systems has received two contracts worth up to $23.5 million for the delivery of its Centaur unmanned ground vehicles to the US Army and Navy.
According to a company announcement, the deal includes the delivery of over 160 UGVs, plus related spares and accessories. The contracts are being sourced through the Army’s Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II) program.
Since March, FLIR has announced orders totaling more than $65 million for nearly 500 Centaur UGVs from the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and now Navy.
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams will use the FLIR Centaur to assist in disarming improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance, and similar hazardous tasks. Operators can attach different sensors and payloads to the robot to support other functions, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) missions.
“With the Navy joining the MTRS Inc II program, it means that all US military forces will now use a common, medium-sized robotic platform for EOD and CBRN operations,” said Roger Wells, VP and general manager of the unmanned systems & integrated solutions business at FLIR. “In an era of increased joint service operations in combat zones worldwide, having common equipment across EOD units can support more standardized tactics and techniques.”
In 2017, the US Army selected Endeavor Robotics, acquired last year by FLIR, as its medium-sized robot provider for MTRS Inc II. The company designed Centaur as its MTRS solution. FLIR is delivering robots to the Army under that multi-year program of record, which upon award was valued at more than $150 million, including options. These latest orders fall under the current ceiling.
Centaur is a medium-sized UGV that provides a standoff capability to detect, confirm, identify, and dispose of hazards. Weighing roughly 160 pounds, the open-architecture robot features an EO/IR camera suite, a manipulator arm, and the ability to climb stairs. Modular payloads can be used for CBRNE detection and other missions.
