Most of the US Army's fleet of McDonnell Douglas (MDC)AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopters are to be retrofitted with AlliedSignal full-colour, flat-panel, multi-purpose displays (MPDs), replacing the existing monochrome units.
The deal could eventually cover up to 1,000 aircraft, if the Army pushes ahead with plans to upgrade 758 AH-64As to the Longbow Apache standard, requiring over 4,000 MPDs. The colour displays, will also be fitted as standard to the 97 AH-64Ds, ordered by the UK and Dutch armed forces.
The colour MPDs are designed to reduce crew workload by colour-coding critical flight information. They also weigh significantly less than the monochrome units, which they will replace. The AlliedSignal MPD uses an Optical Imaging Systems active-matrix liquid-crystal-display and a Korry Electronics-designed backlight.
An initial batch of pre-production MPDs will be delivered to MDC in December for flight testing, which is due to start early in 1997. Installation of production units is scheduled to begin in March 1998.
Source: Flight International