Radstone Technology Wins US Army Abrams Battle Tank

Contract
geautomation.com/news/radstone-technology-wins-us-army-abrams-battle-tank-contract/n989

April 7, 2002

Radstone Technology, the world's leading independent supplier of high-performance, rugged

VME-based computer products, has been awarded an initial production contract for more than
$3M by General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., USA to supply its rugged
Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) computer technology for the Abrams Battle Tank M1A2
Continuous Electronics Enhancement Program (CEEP). CEEP is part of the Abrams M1A2
System Enhancement Package (SEP) and will integrate new technologies that will reduce future
obsolescence issues and take advantage of improved processing and display capabilities.
Radstone is integrating its latest generation rugged COTS Power PC Processor, Graphics and
Communications products, enabling General Dynamics to take full advantage of the latest
microprocessor and display technologies and significant performance benefits that have occurred
since the original M1A2 effort. The system will also address obsolescence issues and provide
equally significant reductions in life-cycle costs. The new General Purpose Processor (GPP) and
on-board mezzanines will allow for improved capabilities in both crew operations and vehicle
diagnostics. This initial order will cover the upgrade of approximately 50 Abrams M1A2 tanks.
Over 2000 tanks are currently in service with the US Army and other nations. John F. Rank,
Director - Material Acquisition, General Dynamics Land Systems stated that "the Abrams
continuous electronics enhancement program will sustain the US Army's main battle tank core
electronics architecture well into the next decade. A selection of Radstone Technology's general
purpose processors were chosen on a best value and technical performance criteria."
Commenting on the win, Radstone's Managing Director, Peter Cavill, said: "We are delighted that
General Dynamics Land Systems has selected Radstone to work with them on this important
upgrade program. It is a strong endorsement of Radstone's Whole Program Life COTS
philosophy, which delivers leading-edge products, technology insertion and safeguards against
obsolescence, helping system integrators to meet the demands of performance, cost and
timescale in large development projects." Work is expected to be completed on the CEEP
program by 2006. - ends -

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