U.K. Ministry of Defence awards General Dynamics Mission Systems a multi-million contract to deliver combat search and rescue system test sets.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected General Dynamics Mission Systems to provide an additional 30 CTS-6025 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Test Sets via a multi-million-dollar contract. The recent order, executed by General Dynamics Mission Systems’ U.K.-based distributor, Muirhead Aerospace, is based on the success of the 30 units that were delivered last year, bringing the total number of units ordered by the U.K. MoD to 60.

The CTS-6025 CSAR Radio Test Set combines more than 16 separate test instruments into one, portable, upgradeable device, offering fault detection and operational verification for both the General Dynamics Mission Systems HOOK2® and HOOK3® radios. Combining these 16 separate instruments into one device significantly reduces the lifecycle cost and required maintenance by the user. The CTS-6025 CSAR Radio Test Set is the most comprehensive communications tester for field testing, reducing testing time and cost, maintenance and calibration costs, lifecycle ownership costs, and the number of “no fault found” results.

“Our family of HOOK CSAR radios has helped save the lives of military personnel isolated or in harm’s way during missions,” said Ryan Orth, Vice President of RF Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “The CTS-6025 Test Set provides a quick, easy and reliable way to test the radios prior to deployment to ensure that they are configured properly and will work every time when failure is not an option.”

The CTS-6025 test sets will be used by the U.K. MoD prior to missions to test and ensure that the General Dynamics HOOK3 CSAR System -- which includes the HOOK3® Combat Survival Radio, AN/PRC-112G® CSAR Transceiver and QuickDraw2® Interrogator -- are configured and working properly. The HOOK3 radio provides direct line-of-sight voice and encrypted two-way data communications to help combat search and rescue teams quickly and accurately locate and rescue downed pilots and isolated military personnel.

The script-driven test sets were designed specifically to make it easy for maintainers without extensive technical knowledge of the equipment by providing step-by-step instructions that yield clear pass/fail results. Users can also use the test sets to configure the radios with specific mission parameters, eliminating the need for additional provisioning equipment. In addition, the test sets are easily upgraded with the latest enhancements via software updates.

Since 2002, General Dynamics has delivered more than 39,000 HOOK combat search and rescue radios to 41 different countries. More information about the HOOK3 radio is available at the General Dynamics Mission Systems HOOK3 website.

General Dynamics Mission Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), provides mission-critical solutions to defense, intelligence and cyber-security customers across all domains. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, General Dynamics Mission Systems employs more than 12,000 people worldwide. More information about General Dynamics Mission Systems’ portfolio of capabilities is available at gdmissionsystems.com.