Boeing and Lockheed Martin have teamed up to offer a third-generation mid-wave forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager enhancement to the planned new Arrowhead targeting and night vision system for the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow. The FLIR will be offered to the US Army and internationally, where the helicopter is facing strong competition from the similarly equipped Bell AH-1Z attack helicopter.
The two companies are seeking customer support to integrate a large format staring 3-5 mm FLIR into Arrowhead to supplement the sensor's second-generation long-wave imager, TV camera and piloting FLIR. The system draws on the mid-wave integrated detector/cooler assembly fitted to the proposed new Sniper targeting pod and shares a high degree of component commonality with the Lockheed Martin Hawkeye system on the AH-1Z.
The sensor offers twice the target detection range of a second-generation system and is particularly advantageous in hot and high humidity climates.
Source: Flight International
