Lockheed Martin has bagged a $60 million contract from the US Army to develop a night vision sensor for the Apache attack helicopter. The sensors are called Combat-Proven Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors or simply Arrowhead.
Matt Hoffman, Arrowhead program director in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business said that the highly reliable Arrowhead system saves lives. He added that Arrowhead has demonstrated operational performance second to none, and this contract reflects the confidence our customers have in this low maintenance, highly mission capable system for the Apache.
The company will also include 23 Arrowhead night vision sensor kits for the National Guard and US Government and Foreign Military Sales spares and support in the follow contract. The kits that Lockheed Martin provides will help upgrade infrared sensors and related electronics. The deal also has an option for up to 46 systems and spares for the Army and an undisclosed foreign military customer.
Lt. Col. Steve Van Riper, U.S. Army Apache Sensors product manager said that the order represented their continued successful partnership with Lockheed Martin and the Arrowhead upgrades that will complement the conversion of their National Guard Apache battalions from the AH-64A to the AH-64D Longbow.
He added that these Arrowhead systems will provide AH-64D aviators with a combat-proven sensor capability required to support their soldiers and international allies around the world. Bethesda, Md based Lockheed Martin released the first Arrowhead kit to the U.S. Army in May 2005, and completed integration on the first Apache helicopters in June 2005.