Article Posted on : - Oct 27, 2010

A file photo of AH-1W Cobra helicopters.

MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE (BNS): US Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded a $45.5 million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract to Elbit Systems of America, for the supply of Night Targeting System Upgrade (NTSU) and associated line items for the AH-1W Cobra helicopters.

The company will perform the work at its center in Merrimack, New Hampshire and it is expected to be completed over the next five years.

“The NTSU enables extended target acquisition, recognition and engagement ranges and offers a critical and cost effective increase in survivability to the war-fighter. The company is pleased to provide this tactical targeting ability to the USMC AH-1W team,” Elbit Systems of America, President and CEO, Raanan Horowitz said.

The NTSU system builds upon the legacy of the combat-proven Night Targeting System (NTS). The improvements in the optics provide the war-fighter a significant increase in the ability to detect, recognise, identify and prosecute targets at stand-off ranges in all weather and lighting conditions.

The helicopter is equipped with new features, which include the ability to fire TOW and Hellfire missiles, an advanced thermal sight and a high performance color CCD camera.