Article Posted on : - Jan 05, 2012

AH-64D Apache helicopter of US Army.

ORLANDO (BNS): US Army has awarded a $181 million contract to LONGBOW Limited Liability Company for the delivery of AH-64D Apache Block III LONGBOW radar and data link systems.

LONGBOW Limited Liability Company is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The contract includes the first international purchase of the Block III LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) by Taiwan, which will receive 15 Block III LONGBOW FCR systems.

LONGBOW LLC will also produce 18 Radar Electronic Units (REU), 14 Unmanned Aerial System Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA) systems and spares to equip the US Army's new fleet of Block III Apaches.

The LONGBOW FCR integrates with the LONGBOW HELLFIRE missile, enhancing the Apache's lethality fourfold and increasing survivability sevenfold.

The new LONGBOW Block III FCR REU provides reduced size, weight, maintenance and power requirements of the radar system. The LONGBOW Block III UTA provides a two-way, high-bandwidth data link, enabling aircrews to control Unmanned Aircraft Systems' (UAS) flight path, sensors and lasers at long ranges. The system also provides the ability to receive high-quality UAS imagery on displays.

Prime mission equipment and spares production, as well as engineering services and integrated logistics, will be performed at Lockheed Martin facilities in Ocala and Orlando, Florida, and Northrop Grumman facilities in Baltimore. The contract includes options to extend the period of performance from 2015 to 2017.