$8.2M To Provide Helmet Display And Tracker System For USMC Helos

The United States Marine Corps has awarded an $8.3 million contract to Elbit Systems of America for Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) for the USMC AH-1W Attack Helicopter. The contract effort covers the development of retrofit kits to incorporate HDTS into the AH-1W helicopter. The company will be assisted in this program by subcontractors Elbit Systems Ltd. Aerospace Division as well as Service Support Associates Inc.

Elbit Systems of America was chosen based upon the previously successful 1st flight of HDTS on the USMC AH-1W in November 2007 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The HDTS system provides significant increases in situational awareness and safety by allowing pilots to fly "head out of the cockpit" during day and night operations and combines it with Other Pilot Line of Sight (OPLOS) information. This information further increases crew situational awareness and effectiveness, while reducing workload. The system is based on the proven Elbit Systems ANVIS/HUD which has been in use by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and U.S. Air Force rotary wing pilots since the mid- 1990's. The system is installed on most of the U.S. utility and cargo helicopter fleet platforms, including the UH-60L, CH-53E, CH-47D, CH-46E, UH-1N, V-22 and others, and has seen extensive operational use in Iraq and Afghanistan.

AH-1W

"Elbit Systems of America is pleased and honored to support the USMC AH-1W team," said Raanan Horowitz, President and CEO. "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."

In combination with OPLOS and weapons aiming and targeting information, the HDTS will provide US Marine Corps helicopter pilots with flight data symbology 24 hours a day, utilizing new, light-weight flat panel displays superimposed over helmet mounted night vision goggles for the night, and the Day HUD for day display of relevant flight symbology.

FMI: www.elbit.co.il