DRS Technologies completes TLDS CDR

DRS Technologies’ bid for the US Army’s Target Location Designation System (TLDS) programme has reached a new milestone, with the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the company’s precision targeting solution. DRS Technologies’ solution will now move to contractor and government testing.

Also known as the Mojave programme, TLDS aims to give dismounted Forward Observer and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers the ability to acquire, locate, mark, and request fire in austere environments with precision strikes without the need for mensuration; and provide connectivity to the joint forces through fire and close air support digital planning/messaging devices.

The system will reduce the size of current systems that make it difficult to conduct rapid target engagement when immediate strikes are needed.  The introduction of quick and consistent precision grids can give manoeuvre commanders greater discretion when engaging targets; reduce the time to get artillery rounds on target, as well as the amount of rounds needed for target destruction. The added precision in turn can reduce fratricide and collateral damage.

DRS is one of two companies competing under this phase of the programme, along with BAE Systems, which is offering its Handheld Azimuth Measuring, Marking, Electro-optic imaging, and Ranging (HAMMER) precision targeting system. Both companies were issued prototype contracts for the programme in 2013.

Production and fielding of the selected system is scheduled to take place from 2016.