The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin with a $111 M Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract.
The PBL contract is a complete sustainment solution with firm-fixed price, minimizing Operations and Support (O&S) costs, supporting mission readiness, and also promoting maintainability and reliability upgrades. The contract includes a one-year base and three one-year options over December 2015. The overall four-year contract is worth $375 M.
According to Kathy Drysdale, chief of the Avionics and Radar division for the Apache Attack Helicopter, with proven features, the M-TADS/PNVS PBL ensures soldiers with unique operational potential, and reflects 'Better Buying Power' in action. The M-TADS/PNVS PBL program features advancing fleet readiness, low average flying hour cost and the Army's long-term inventory investment, thereby providing reliable support to the soldier.
David Belvin of Lockheed Martin said that the PBL program optimizes a strong relationship between Lockheed Martin, the warfighter, and the Army that leads to improved overall effectiveness of the Apache. The PBL contract provides a support solution that is more cost-efficient than previous approaches. It also delivers enhanced levels of performance and value to its clients.
By modifying the infrared sensors and associated electronics, M-TADS/PNVS upgrades the U.S. Army's TADS/PNVS, called the "eyes of the Apache." M-TADS/PNVS ensures Apache pilots with the modern long-range, electro-optical precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for achieving mission success and flight safety in all-weather missions.