Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) The Arrowhead advanced targeting and pilotage sensors fielded on the Apache helicopter in June 2005 and drew the praise of Army Aviation pilots, who commented: "The detail is excellent. Now, I can see the wires." Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

Orlando, Fla., USA - December 12, 2011

The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Aviation, the Apache Program Management Office and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently received the 2011 U.S. Secretary of Defense Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Award for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.

The team received the sub-system level PBL award, one of three awards given annually to recognize government/industry teams that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in providing warfighters with exceptional operational capability.

Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) Arrowhead… "The New Eyes of Apache" … has Lockheed Martin’s new advanced FLIR sensors, which give Apache pilots ownership of the night. Arrowhead is the advanced electro-optical fire control system that Apache helicopter pilots use for safe flight in day, night, or bad weather missions. It is the U.S. Army's Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system that is leading edge in its design. M-TADS/PNVS advanced technology improves system performance by over 150 percent. Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

“The PBL approach allows our team to strategically attack reliability, maintainability and obsolescence issues in ways that were not previously possible, fundamentally changing the way we operate,” said Terri Schwierling, director of the U.S. Army’s Integrated Materiel Management Center Apache Sustainment Division.
“This approach decreased the average sustainment cost by 57 percent. It is the most fiscally responsible, soldier-friendly tool that we have used to date.”

The Apache M-TADS/PNVS PBL program provides efficiencies in supply chain management that have increased reliability and system readiness for the warfighter.

This PBL program is a comprehensive sustainment solution that enables outstanding fleet mission capability, improves reliability and maintainability, and reduces sustainment costs using innovative supply concepts.

Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) The Arrowhead modular design melds existing legacy hardware with new FLIR sensors to fight decisively during day, night, or adverse-weather missions … regardless of battlefield obscurants. Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

“Apache Sensors PBL is truly a model for how we can do business; it provides balanced, cost-effective, and timely support to our soldiers in the states and those deployed abroad,” said Lt. Col. Steve Van Riper, product manager of U.S. Army Apache Sensors.
“The Apache logistics team works hard each day to make the PBL effort a success. I am absolutely thrilled that their accomplishments have been recognized at the Department of the Army level.”

Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) Arrowhead's advanced FLIR sensors enable Army Aviation Warfighters to see first, understand first, act first, and finish decisively on the tactical battlefield. Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

“The M-TADS/PNVS PBL program supports over 670 U.S. Army Apache aircraft in 25 battalions worldwide, including multiple forward operating bases,” said David Belvin, program director of Apache fire control programs in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business.
“These critical supportability efforts contribute to the overall mission success of the Apache and the soldier.”

M-TADS/PNVS modernizes the U.S. Army’s TADS/PNVS, known as the “eyes of the Apache,” by upgrading the infrared sensors and associated electronics.

It provides Apache pilots the most advanced long-range, electro-optical precision engagement and pilotage capabilities, ensuring safe flight during day, night and adverse-weather missions.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.


Contact

Melissa Hilliard, (407) 356-5351
e-mail melissa.hilliard@lmco.com  

For additional information, visit our website:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/mfc  



Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS)


Arrowhead is the advanced electro-optical fire control system that Apache helicopter pilots use for safe flight in day, night, or bad weather missions.

It is the U.S. Army's Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system that is leading edge in its design.

Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) With these Arrowhead features - the advanced FLIR targeting and navigation sensors, new TEDAC flat-panel display, and multi-target tracker - Apache pilots who used to fight to see, can now see to fight. Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

M-TADS/PNVS advanced technology improves system performance by over 150 percent.

Reliability increases more than 150 percent while maintenance actions decrease approximately 60 percent.

Streamlining field maintenance from three to two levels saves nearly $1 billion in operation and support costs over the 20-year life of the system.

M-TADS/PNVS modular architecture accommodates a field-retrofit from TADS/PNVS to the new configuration on the Apache AH-64D.

Arrowhead (M-TADS/PNVS) Arrowhead's lightweight modules can be rapidly removed and replaced while the Apache helicopter is in the field. Thus, Arrowhead reduces field maintenance to only two levels and saves the U.S. Army over $1 billion in operation and support costs over the life of the system. Courtesy of Lockheed Martin photo

Over 1000 systems will have been delivered at the completion of the current Lot 8 contract, which extends production through January 2015.

A Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract was initiated in 2007 for TADS/PNVS and M-TADS/PNVS systems.

The PBL contract provides complete post-production supply chain management, including spares planning, procurement, repairs, maintenance, modifications and inventory management of fielded systems.

An update to the TADS/PNVS Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) is in development.

M-DSA modernizes the entire DSA system to enhance performance and address obsolescence, as well as to increase the system’s ability to fully accommodate weapons now in production.

VNsight is a low-light-level TV integrated into the AH-64D Apache Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-PNVS) and Pathfinder dedicated pilotage sensor (the M-PNVS adapted for cargo and utility aircraft).

The additional imaging capability in this wavelength complements the long wave infrared wavelength of the existing M-PNVS sensor and provides the Warfighter with significant tactical advantages.

VNsight is currently in limited production.


Contact

Media and Press Inquiries: (330) 796-1793

Business Development: 407-356-4464; Fax 407-356-7199


Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/  



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