MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Harris Corp. received a $4.5 million contract for development and pre-production of data recorders for the U.S. Apache attack helicopter.
The Florida electronics firm said Wednesday that the Solid State Recording Device (SSRD) will be used to store a variety of internal and external sensor data as well as video imagery that can be used by both the chopper's crew while in flight and by the maintenance crew on the ground.
"The Harris SSRD will provide the next generation of powerful, onboard data storage and retrieval capabilities to support the Apache helicopter's combat missions," declared Harris Vice President Sheldon Fox.
The contract was issued by Boeing, the builder of the Apache, and carries a future production-phase provision for $16.4 million that would bring the total value of the SSRD project up to nearly $21 million.
The SSRD planned by Harris will replace the current Expanded Data Transfer Unit and combines separate video and data storage units currently used on the AH-64D Apache Longbow. The SSRD has a minimum of 64 Gigabytes of data storage capability and a 1 Gigabyte Ethernet interface. The unit is strenthened for military use and can be easily removed from the aircraft.
The Apache Longbow carries out air-support missions in concert with U.S. Army ground troops and can also launch missile strikes against specific ground targets. The heavily armed chopper has seen extensive action in Iraq and Afghanistan and is also used by U.S. allies in Europe and the Middle East.
