Elbit Systems has received a contract to provide depot level service and support for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter’s night targeting system (NTS).
Under the $44.8m indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, Elbit will provide services and support for the night targeting system for AH-1W helicopters over the next five years.
During the contract period, a separate delivery contract will be issued to meet requirements of each year’s nine weapons replacement assemblies (WRA), which make up the night targeting system.
Elbit Systems of America president and CEO, Raanan Horowitz, said the company aims to provide systems and services that protect and save lives.
"We look forward to the opportunity to provide rapid, quality support for our men and women in uniform," Horowitz said.
The AH-1W helicopter features Tamam Division of Israel Aircraft Industries and Kollsman-built NTS, which comprises a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) to provide automatic target tracking with a laser designator / rangefinder and video recorder.
"The award is representative of more than 20 years of successful performance and customer satisfaction on both the NTS and successor NTS Upgrade (NTSU) programmes," Horowitz continued.
Capable of carrying both Raytheon BGM-71 TOW missile TOW and AGM-114 Hellfire missile anti-armour missiles, the Super Cobra features fire-and-forget capability when firing the Hellfire missile in co-operative mode with laser target illumination.
In addition, the helicopters are armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the Sidearm anti-radiation missile and can fire Hydra family of unguided 70mm rockets or the larger 127mm Zuni rocket bombs.
Image: A Super Cobra helicopter firing missile. Photo: file image.