Lockheed Martin Corp. said Monday it had won a four-year, $65 million contract from the U.S. Army to continue updating vision-sensor systems for the Apache helicopter.
The base contract is valued at $22 million with options for work on the target-spotting and pilot night-vision sensor system.
Located in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and forms the core of research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.0 billion
Lockheed shares have risen to 18 cents to close at $71.47 since its renewed contract with the US Army.
In this Phase II, four-year, fixed-price contract, Lockheed Martin will complete modernizing the Apache's legacy Day Sensor Assembly (DSA) and associated electronics
"The Modernized DSA replaces vintage 30-year-old hardware -- addressing obsolescence, reliability and capability gaps" said U.S. Army Apache Sensors Product Manager Lt. Col. John Vannoy. "These improvements will make the Apache a more lethal and survivable aircraft on the battlefield well into the future" he further added.
Fielded since 2005, the M-TADS/PNVS, also known as Arrowhead, provides Apache pilots advanced pilotage and target locking capability when conducting day, night and adverse-weather missions.
M-DSA includes upgrades to the multi-mode laser rangefinder/designator, visible color sensor, laser spot tracker, inertial measurement unit, modernized day sensor structure assembly and a potential for future laser pointer marker compatibility.
M-DSA also increases reliability by enhancing M-TADS/PNVS mean time between failure rates.
"M-DSA will expand the M-TADS/PNVS' ability to fully accommodate future weapons, providing a tremendous capability to our Warfighters for many years to come," said Matt Hoffman, M-DSA program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.