Lockheed Martin to provide electro-optical targeting and night vision for Army AH-64 attack helicopters
Summary points:
- Lockheed Martin to deliver M-TADS/PNVS (Arrowhead) systems to enhance AH-64 Apache helicopter long-range targeting and pilot night vision.
- Arrowhead has color and low-light TV cameras, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), eye-safe laser range finding, and improved image blending.
- Laser pointer and extended-range picture-in-picture help coordinate with ground forces and enable high-resolution imagery on cockpit displays.
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – U.S. Army aviation experts needed additional electro-optical targeting systems for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. They found their solution from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control segment in Orlando, Fla.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $1.7 billion contract to Lockheed Martin earlier this month for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system, also known as Arrowhead.
M-TADS/PNVS provides Apache helicopter pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities to meet mission goals and for flight safety during day and night and in bad weather.
Electro-optical sensors
The M-TADS/PNVS has several subcomponents. The lower M-TADS turret contains the targeting system, which has day and night electro-optical sensors. The Arrowhead targeting sensor suite has forward looking infrared (FLIR) elements of the TADS and the PNVS to provide modern technological and precision engagement, and ensure the Army’s Apache helicopters remains an effective attack helicopters well into the future.
The system's laser rangefinder designator includes an eye-safe rangefinder and day sensor electronics unit, which replaces the laser transceiver unit and related electronics in the Apache’s legacy day sensor assembly.
The new day sensor structure assembly offers fields of view that match the Arrowhead FLIR fields of view to accommodate image blending. The modernized TV sensor incorporates color and low-light sensitivity. A modern inertial measurement unit replaces three spinning-mass gyros, and the new laser spot tracker uses a four-quadrant detector and improved processing. A laser pointer marker helps enhance coordination with ground and air units.
These targeting components enable Apache helicopters to identify targets at long ranges through an additional field-of-view and extended-range picture-in-picture capability, as well as provide the ability to view high-resolution, near-infrared and color imagery on cockpit displays.
The system provides a new laser pointer marker that improves coordination with ground troops, and an updated multimode laser with eye-safe lasing capability that supports flight in urban environments and home-station training.
On this contract Lockheed Martin will do the work at locations be determined with each order, and should be finished by December 2027. For more information contact Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control online at https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/missiles-and-fire-control.html, or the Army Contracting Command-Redstone at https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-rsa/.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
