Lockheed to continue Apache upgrade

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ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Two production contracts to continue upgrading U.S. Army Apache helicopters have been given to Lockheed Martin.

The awards -- for upgrading of the attack helicopter's Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor -- are worth $161.7 million and ensure that production at the company's Missiles and Fire Control's facilities in Florida will continue into 2016.

Work under the new contracts will include production of 482 Modernized Day Sensor Assembly Modernized Laser Rangefinder Designator kits and spares.

"These two production lots represent our continued confidence in Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to provide a high-performing, high-quality, reliable LRFD for the AH-64D/E," said Lt. Col. Steve Van Riper, U.S. Army product manager of Apache Sensors. "We look forward to our first delivery and subsequent fielding of this capability."

"M-DSA M-LRFD kits reduce ongoing obsolescence while significantly increasing system performance," added Matt Hoffman, director of M-TADS/PNVS programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "These contracts demonstrate the customer's commitment to ensuring our soldiers have superior capabilities as they carry out their missions."