OTTAWA – The Department of National Defence and the Royal Netherlands Navy have awarded a $148.5 million contract to DRS Technologies of Kanata, Ont. to supply the SIRIUS Long Range Infrared Search and Track System for installation on the Canadian Navy’s Halifax Class Frigates and the Netherlands Navy's LCF Class ships. Canada’s portion of the contract is $111.5 million.
SIRIUS is a technologically advanced passive scanning infrared sensor. Infrared is invisible radiation with a wavelength just greater than red light and is emitted particularly by heated objects. Proven in extensive trials in cold and warm water environments, SIRIUS will be used for a variety of ship missions, including search and rescue, air operations, navigation and patrol. SIRIUS also provides high-resolution, panoramic video under day and night conditions that significantly improves situational awareness against multiple threats by automatically detecting and tracking small surface targets, low flying aircraft and anti-ship missiles, which might otherwise go undetected by radar.
As a passive, non-emitting sensor, SIRIUS will be especially useful for covert surveillance. Modern and well equipped, the Halifax Class Frigates are designed to operate independently, or as part of a larger force.
“Our Navy operates all over the world, from the Arctic to the Persian Gulf. Our crews need advanced sensors and weapons to deal with the increasingly complex Post 9/11 security environment,” said Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson, Chief of Maritime Staff. “The SIRIUS Long Range Infrared Search and Track System will ensure the Halifax Class remains a formidable platform for many years into the future.”
The SIRIUS system was jointly developed by Canada and the Netherlands under a bi-lateral Memorandum of Understanding, and the contract represents the results of the successful collaboration between the two nations. Under the contract, Canada is procuring 13 systems to equip all 12 Halifax Class Frigates, plus a land based combat trainer, and the Netherlands is ordering four systems for installation on their LCF Class frigates. DRS Technologies will be the prime contractor, with its industrial partner, Thales Nederlands, being the main subcontractor. System deliveries are expected to begin in early 2008 and continue through August 2011.
The contract was awarded through the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), which has the mandate to procure on behalf of a foreign nation. The contracting activities will be carried out by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) under a tripartite DND / PWGSC / CCC Memorandum of Understanding.
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