Lockheed Martin continues logistics sustainment of helo vision/targeting system

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has exercised a contract option with Lockheed Martin for sustainment of a targeting and night vision system used by Apache helicopter pilots.

The system -- the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor -- is a long-range, forward-looking infrared system with enhanced visual resolution.

More than 1,300 M-TADS/PNVS systems have been delivered by Lockheed Martin to the U.S. Army and international customers for use on the AH-64.

Lockheed Martin said the exercised option is worth 82 million and comes under a four-year performance based logistics contract it received from the Army in 2012. The overall value of that contract is $375 million.

"The partnership between the Army Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Center and Lockheed Martin has built a comprehensive logistics solution that consistently meets or exceeds required aircraft readiness rates," said Rob Breter, Apache PBL senior program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "During its peak operational tempo of more than 200,000 flying hours, the M-TADS/PNVS PBL program averaged a worldwide supply availability rate of 98 percent, increasing mission readiness for the aircrew."