Elbit Systems of America Awarded $8.2M Contract
for Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) for U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W
The system is based on the proven Elbit Systems
ANVIS/HUD® which has been in use by U.S. Army
Press Release
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, January 16, 2010 – Elbit Systems of America,
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT)
announced receipt of contracts from the United States Marine Corps
(USMC) for Elbit Systems of America Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS)
for the USMC AH-1W Attack Helicopter. The contract effort covers the
development of retrofit kits to incorporate HDTS into the AH-1W helicopter.
Elbit Systems of America will be assisted in this program by subcontractors
Elbit Systems Ltd. Aerospace Division as well as Service Support Associates Inc.
Elbit Systems of America was chosen based upon the previously successful
1st flight of HDTS on the USMC AH-1W in November 2007 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
The program is valued at $8.2 million and is to be performed through 2010.
Award of a contract for HDTS production kits and
installation is expected in September 2010.
The HDTS system provides significant increases in situational
awareness and safety by allowing pilots to fly “head out of
the cockpit” during day and night operations and combines it
with Other Pilot Line of Sight (OPLOS) information.
This information further increases crew situational awareness and effectiveness,
while reducing workload. The system is based on the proven Elbit Systems
ANVIS/HUD® which has been in use by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and
U.S. Air Force rotary wing pilots since the mid- 1990’s.
The system is installed on most of the U.S. utility and cargo
helicopter fleet platforms, including the UH-60L, CH-53E,
CH-47D, CH-46E, UH-1N, V-22 and others, and has seen extensive
operational use in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Commenting on the contract milestone, Raanan Horowitz,
President and CEO of Elbit Systems of America said,
“Elbit Systems of America is pleased and honored to support
the USMC AH-1W team. The previous demonstration efforts were
completed months ahead of schedule and we will press ahead for
similar results in this program phase.
Production deliveries of the HDTS will provide greatly
enhanced situational awareness and reduce cockpit workload
for the USMC war-fighter in the AH-1W cockpit”.
In combination with OPLOS and weapons aiming and targeting information,
the HDTS will provide US Marine Corps helicopter pilots with flight data
symbology 24 hours a day, utilizing new, light-weight flat panel
displays superimposed over helmet mounted night vision goggles for the night,
and the Day HUD for day display of relevant flight symbology.
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