Lockheed Martin Wins $49 Million For US Army Apache Helicopter Sensor Upgrades

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $49.3 million contract to upgrade the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64E Apache helicopter.

Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will produce an additional 42 Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) upgrade kits and spares for the U.S. Army as part of Lot 1 production. Production will take place at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, through March 2019.

"M-DSA gives Apache aircrews has the ability to more rapidly identify targets and coordinate with troops on the ground, which improves mission success," said Tom Eldredge, director of M-TADS/PNVS production programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "M-DSA's modular design reduces operation and support costs, and will be supported by our award-winning Performance-Based Logistics sustainment program."

With M-DSA upgrades, pilots can identify targets at farther distances through an additional field of view and extended range picture-in-picture capability. They also now have the ability to view high-resolution, near-infrared and color imagery on cockpit displays. M-DSA also provides a new laser pointer marker that improves coordination with ground troops, and an updated multi-mode laser with eye-safe lasing capability that supports flight in urban environments and home-station training.