Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
Competition between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to equip Boeing AH-64A/D attack helicopters with a second generation targeting and navigation system is increasing with the submission of bids to the US Army and growing international interest.
The US Army is evaluating two new proposals to upgrade the AH-64's target acquisition designation and pilot night vision systems (TADS/PNVS). The bids cover the retrofit of 743 forward looking infrared (FLIR) systems and life cycle costs for up to 25 years.
"The army is looking to upgrade not just the performance but reliability and maintainability from a cost standpoint," says Dave Shrum, Lockheed Martin TADS/ PNVS programme manager. The company is proposing Arrowhead, derived from the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 electro-optical system.
Raytheon has proposed FIRESight, a development of a second generation FLIR programme. The navigation system has been flight demonstrated on the Apache as part of the army's Rotorcraft Pilot Associate trials, while the targeting sensor has completed 35h of separate flight tests.
Both companies are beginning to focus beyond the US Army's anticipated July selection and, irrespective of the outcome, have indicated they will continue to develop their systems privately. The systems are projected to cost $100-120 million to develop.
"Any new FLIR sales will be of a second generation system and there is an emerging market, especially in the Asia Pacific region," says Bruce Versteegh, Raytheon programme manager.
Singapore's contract for eight AH-64Ds includes a "not to exceed price" option to upgrade the TADS/PNVS.
Australia, Japan and South Korea are evaluating the AH-64, while the UK has been briefed on Arrowhead and FIRESight as a possible retrofit for its WAH-64D Apache Longbows.
As the US Army is undecided on whether to upgrade all of its AH-64s to Longbow standard, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon proposals include provisions to upgrade AH-64As and AH-64Ds.
The second generation systems include fusion of FLIR and image intensified TV images, two colour laser designator and an expanded 30x52° field of view.
Source: Flight International
