Posted by Courtney Howard
FORT WORTH, Texas, 14 Jan. 2010. Elbit Systems of America LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., announced receipt of contracts from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for Elbit's Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) for the USMC AH-1W Attack Helicopter.
Elbit engineers will develop retrofit kits to include HDTS in the AH-1W helicopter.
Elbit Systems of America personnel will be assisted by subcontractors Elbit Systems Ltd. Aerospace Division and Service Support Associates Inc.
Elbit Systems of America was selected based on the first flight of HDTS on the USMC AH-1W in November 2007 at NAS Patuxent River, Md., says a representative.
The program is valued at $8.2 million and extends through 2010.
Award of a contract for HDTS production kits and installation is expected in September 2010.
The HDTS system increases situational awareness and safety by allowing pilots to fly "head out of the cockpit" during day and night operations. HDTS combines with Other Pilot Line of Sight (OPLOS) information, further increasing crew situational awareness and effectiveness, while reducing workload.
The system is based on Elbit Systems' ANVIS/HUD in use by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Air Force rotary wing pilots.
Commenting on the contract milestone, Raanan Horowitz, president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America says, "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."
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