Orbital ATK upgrades South Korean Army Cobra helos

DULLES, Va., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- An undisclosed number of Cobra helicopters of the Republic of Korea Army have received new aircraft survivability equipment suites from Orbital ATK.

Orbital ATK said the upgrade included its AAR-47 missile and laser warning system with hostile fire indication; Symetrics' ALE-47 counter-measures dispensing system; and Southeast Aerospace's aircraft modification kits.

The AAR-47 integrates missile, laser and hostile fire threat warning into a single system and provides aircrew with enhanced capability for detection of a wide range of threats to their aircraft, including smaller-caliber weapon fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

The AN/ALE-47 CMDS dispenses chaff or flares to help defeat surface-to-air and air-to-air missile threats.

"The knowledge and experience of our team allowed us to rapidly install and integrate the survivability equipment onto the Korean AH-1S helicopters," said Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of the Defense Electronic Systems division of Orbital ATK's Defense Systems Group. "This quick turnaround is a testament to the outstanding effort and technical competence of our team and further demonstrates our commitment to provide our customers with an affordable solution enhancing the overall effectiveness of their missions."

Orbital ATK was contracted last April for the upgrade by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration.