ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has mounted its first two Arrowhead systems on Dutch air force AH-64D Apache helicopters.
The company said in a statement last week that it had "installed the first two Arrowhead systems on Royal Netherlands Air Force -- RNLAF -- AH-64D Apaches at Gilze Rijen Airbase, Netherlands."
"These installations mark the first time Lockheed Martin has installed the Arrowhead, or Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor -- M-TADS/PNVS -- system utilizing the host nation’s equipment and personnel," the company said.
"The Arrowhead in-country installation is a prime example of the strategic partnerships Lockheed Martin creates with international customers," said David Starr, Arrowhead Netherlands program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We worked hand-in-hand with the RNLAF to train them on Arrowhead kit installations. The RNLAF is the first foreign military service to learn how to install Arrowhead kits themselves, and they will complete all remaining installations in the Netherlands."
Lockheed Martin said it "faced a unique challenge with these kit installations."
"Most countries with Apaches also have Special Repair Activities -- SRA -- to troubleshoot, repair and validate hardware. However, the Netherlands did not have this SRA capability, which required technique modification to accommodate the Netherlands’ facilities, tools and processes," the company said.
Lockheed Martin said the April 2005 contract "includes the delivery of 24 Arrowhead kits as well as spares, peculiar ground support equipment, training and two Arrowhead kit installations. Fourteen kits have been delivered to date, and the remaining 10 will be delivered by October 2007."
"Lockheed Martin’s Arrowhead kit provides the most advanced electro-optical targeting and pilotage system available to Apache crews for maximizing safe flight in day, night and adverse-weather environments. Flight crews have validated the system’s advanced capabilities with highly favorable after-action reports. Arrowhead's Forward-Looking Infrared -- FLIR -- sensors use advanced image processing techniques to give pilots the best possible resolution to avoid obstacles during low-level flight," the company said.
