July 8, 2008—St. Louis, MO: LaBarge, Inc. has been awarded a $2.7 million dollar contract from BAE Systems to continue to produce the Ethernet Switch Unit (ESU) for its A3 Bradley Combat Systems vehicles.

The ESU functions as a router and a switch for electronic data sent to devices in the vehicle’s LAN (local area network). LaBarge has manufactured the ESU since 2001.

The Bradley A3 is a technologically advanced, highly mobile, digital fighting system that significantly increases the Bradley’s lethality and survivability in battle. Bradley A3 communications enable digital information displays for the commander, driver and squad leader. The Bradley Combat Systems played a centerpiece role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and continue to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in all types of close-combat urban scenarios or in open-combat terrain. The Bradley fulfills critical infantry, cavalry, fire support, battle command and engineer roles for the Army's heavy brigades.

LaBarge anticipates production on this contract to begin December 2008 and continue through September 2009 at its Huntsville, Ark., facility.