Improve Helicopter Survivability Against Small Arms Fire

Lockheed Martin, OWEGO: Lockheed Martin has won a $13 million U.S. Army contract to develop, integrate and flight-test two systems that will improve a helicopter's ability to survive attack from small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). 
 
The first system, the Hostile Fire Indicator (HFI), uses sensors to detect muzzle flashes from small arms fire and RPGs, and precisely compute the bearing to the threat's location. The second system, a Visual Acquisition Disruptor, will inhibit the ability of enemy combatants to acquire an accurate shot at the aircraft. 
 
Lockheed Martin will integrate the two systems with an additional processor that maintains Visual Acquisition Disruption (VAD) as the aircraft continues flying. To enhance situational awareness, the processor will provide crewmembers with audio alerts and visual threat location symbology shown on their helmet-mounted or heads-down displays. 
 
“Integrating these two systems will give U.S. Army helicopter crews greater situational awareness and improved survivability against devastating small arms and RPG attack at low altitudes,” said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Multi-Mission Solutions for Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego. “The pilot can choose to avoid the threat or allow the gunner to more safely engage the threat with running fire or diving fire.” 
 
Lockheed Martin will provide the engineering required to install the integrated systems aboard a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for flight test evaluation / demonstration in 2008. 
The contract is part of the Active / Passive Aircraft Survivability (APAS) program awarded by the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) at Fort Eustis, VA. In addition to the HFI and VAD systems being developed by Lockheed Martin, APAS includes aircraft IR signature reduction technologies, advanced threat warning and next generation directional IR countermeasures. 
 
Subcontractors on the Lockheed Martin APAS team include Ball Aerospace, Goodrich Sensor Systems, and Raytheon.  
 
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.