iRobot has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity $13.5 million contract by Naval Sea Systems Command in Indian Head, Maryland. Under the contract, which will be completed by July 2010, any branch of the armed services can order up to the full value.

The open-ended contract covers orders for Navsea's customized Man Transportable Robotic System version of the PackBot 500 outfitted with an explosive ordnance device kit along with spare parts, accessories, enhancements, configuration management, training and repair.

"What this contract does is if they need more robots, they can get more robots. If they need more repairs, they will get more repairs," says iRobot. The typical delivery of a PackBot costs between $100,000 to $140,000.

The Indian Head facility of Navsea is its Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division. The contract is the latest in a line of agreements between Navsea and iRobot, the last of which ended in January 2009. It was for $3.7 million and covered 17 PackBot MTRSs and repairs.

Source: Flight Daily News