Hector Cuevas, Parsons
Parsons Corp. has secured a $50.6 million, 6-year contract from the U.S. Air Force for the manufacturing, integration and sustainment of 13 Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordnance, or RADBO, systems.
RADBO employs the Parsons-developed ZEUS directed energy system to destroy unexploded ordinance with extreme accuracy in previously denied areas, and improves the safety of deployed warfighters.
“This is Parsons innovation: Delivering a game changing warfighting product,” said Hector Cuevas, Parsons executive vice president of missile defense and C5ISR. “We’re proud to partner with the Air Force in deploying this critical force protection and mission enabling technology that will greatly increase safe and effective explosive ordnance disposal operations.”
The program is the first Defense Department ground-based laser system placed into production, the company said.
Three main components comprise RADBO: the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP, a ZEUS laser and an interrogation arm assembly. Air Force explosive ordnance disposal personnel can operate the laser and robotic arm from the safety of the MRAP to rapidly clear multiple unexploded ordnance from airfields. Parsons is the original equipment manufacturer of the ZEUS laser.
