DRS Defense Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRS Technologies, Inc., announced that its Intelligence, Communications and Avionics Solutions (ICAS) business unit received a contract award from Boeing's Defense Space & Security group to integrate its Intelligence Broadcast Receiver Block 2 (IBR2) tactical terminal onto the KC-46A Tanker aircraft.

The IBR2 tactical terminal provides the user with the ability to receive near real-time situational awareness information, such as threat data and locator information for search and rescue operations, as well as Blue Force Tracking data. The IBR2 tactical terminal receives this critical data via Integrated Broadcast Service and Common Interactive Broadcast waveforms over UHF SATCOM links.

This initial phase of the awarded contract will provide IBR2 systems, data and support to Boeing for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the tanker program.

The KC-46A tanker is a military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft being developed by Boeing to replace the U.S. Air Force's 1950s-era KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. Boeing will replace 179 of the USAF's existing tankers with the KC-46A. The initial contract calls for Boeing to deliver 18 tankers by 2017. The balance of the 179 aircraft will be manufactured and delivered through the year 2028.

"We are honored to be the supplier of the IBR2 tactical terminal for Boeing's next-generation aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force," says DRS ICAS President Logen Thiran. "We look forward to providing this critical capability to the Boeing KC-46A tanker and the service men and women of the U.S. Air Force."