REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. † US Army Aviation Experts Needed electro-optical assemblies to upgrade the Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system, also known as Arrowhead. They found their solution at Lockheed Martin Corp.
Army Contracting Command officials in Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $22.1 million order Friday to the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems segment in Orlando, Florida, for Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) kits. and spare parts for Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
The lower M-TADS tower contains the aiming system, which has electro-optical day and night sensors† The M-DSA has updated laser rangefinder designation, TV sensor and laser spot tracker components, elements of which were designed in the 1970s.
The M-DASA kits help upgrade the entire DSA system to improve performance, reduce the effects of aging and increase the M-TADS/PNVS capability to house weapons now in production.
the arrowhead targeting sensor suite, which was deployed in 2005, modernized the forward-looking infrared elements (FLIR) of the TADS and the PNVS. This modernization effort will ensure modern technological and accurate deployment, and will ensure that the Army Apache helicopter remains an effective attack helicopter well into the future.
The laser rangefinder designation includes an eye-safe rangefinder and day sensor electronics unit, which replaces the laser transceiver unit and associated electronics in Apache’s old day sensor assembly.
The new day sensor structure provides fields of view that match Arrowhead FLIR’s fields of view to enable image mixing. The modernized TV sensor incorporates color and low-light sensitivity. A modern inertial measurement unit replaces three spinning mass gyroscopes, and the new laser spot tracker uses a four-quadrant detector and improved processing. A laser pointer marking helps improve coordination with ground and air units.
M-DSA upgrades enable Apache flight crews to identify distant targets through an additional field of view and expanded picture-in-picture capabilities, as well as the ability to capture high-resolution, near-infrared and color images in the cockpit. view shows.
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M-DSA also offers a new laser pointer marking that improves coordination with ground forces, and an updated multimode laser with eye-safe laser function that supports flight in urban environments and home station training.
M-TADS/PNVS provides Apache helicopter pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for mission success and flight safety throughout the day, night and in adverse weather conditions.
Under this order, Lockheed Martin will do the work in Orlando, Florida, and should be ready by November 2024. For more information, contact Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems online at www.lockheedmartin.comor the army contracting command https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-rsa/†