US Navy has awarded $56 milion contract to QinetiQ for TALON robots

QinetiQ North America announced that it has received a $56.4 million contract for purchase and delivery of TALON GEN IV robots, repair parts, spare kits, and other related equipment and services from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, MD, for the Naval EOD Technical Division (NAVEODTECHDIV), the single-service manager for all EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) equipment. Work will be performed by the Technology Solutions Group and is expected to be completed in early 2010. "Once again, we thank the U.S. Navy for its continued support of our robotics programs," said Dr. William Ribich, president of QinetiQ North America's Technology Solutions Group. "Robots help protect our warfighters, a fact that is demonstrated every day when a robot accomplishes a dangerous assignment while the warfighter controls it from a safe distance".