DRS Technologies Inc. said yesterday that it has been awarded a $3.8 million contract to make display consoles for the Navy.

The work will be done at DRS Electronics Inc. in Gaithersburg, where the Parsippany, N.J., company has about 100 employees, said DRS spokeswoman Patricia M. Williamson.

The contract follows a $37 million contract granted to DRS in 1994.

With yesterday's award, the Navy has released about $30.5 million of the contract.

The equipment being made, known technically as combat display emulator consoles, is just like that installed on Navy warships except that it uses off-the-shelf, commercial hardware and therefore is as much as two-thirds cheaper.

The hardware produced by DRS includes advanced display and data-processing technology and is used for training because it simulates the functions performed by its shipboard counterparts.

Williamson said the equipment can replace the shipboard systems because its performance is equal to that of the more-expensive shipboard consoles.

Pub Date: 6/06/98