Lockheed to upgrade Apache helicopter’s targeting and pilotage system

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the US Army to design, integrate and qualify a high reliability turret for the modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

Under the $14m contract, Lockheed will develop the high reliability turret which is the interface between the M-TADS/PNVS and the Apache airframe.

Designed to enhance target track performance and minimise the effects of aircraft vibration on the system, the turret improves M-TADS/PNVS reliability and maintainability while reducing the operations and support costs of the existing turret assembly.

US Army Product Manager for Apache Sensors lieutenant colonel Steven Van Riper said that the contract involves non-recurring engineering activities which set the conditions for follow-on production and fielding of the new turret.

"This investment, enabled by the Army Working Capital Fund and the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Command, allows us to eliminate several looming obsolescence risks while providing improved capability to our soldiers," Riper added.

The turret would save more than $500m for the US Army in operation and support costs over the life of the system.

Including the base contract and options available through 2015, the potential value of the contract is approximately $38m.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control M-TADS/PNVS programme director Matt Hoffman said, "The new turret design will improve system maintainability while providing a more stable and capable foundation for future system enhancements."

Scheduled to extend through 2017, work under the contract will be carried out at the company facilities in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, US.

More than 1,200 M-TADS/PNVS systems were delivered by the company to the US Army and international customers.