The UK and the Netherlands have ordered Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor systems.
According to a contract notice, the work will be completed by 2023.
The notice is displayed below.
“Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $106,108,230 firm-fixed-price domestic and foreign military sales (Netherlands and United Kingdom) contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor systems, subcomponent production and technical services for the Apache Attack Helicopter.
One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-17-D-0043).”
According to Lockheed Martin:
“The Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) is a long-range, precision engagement and pilotage solution for day, night and adverse weather missions. It provides Apache aircrews with greater situational awareness.”
“The World will be completed by 2023”
Good to know!
Just in time for Crossrail to finally open.
I read somewhere it was 7 days. More fake news!
Or was it 6, with the Sunday off?
Is Sunday still a day of rest?
It appears to be shifting to Friday.
Point taken.
Finding myself surprised to learn that the RNLAF fly Apaches. Assume I had an inflated sense of how much they cost
I think the greater question is why you thought a country with a nominal GDP of $915billion couldn’t afford Apaches…
GDP does not buy anything, what matters is how much tax they raise or more specifically what the defence budget is, which in the case of netherlands is around 10b
Saw an Apache overhead just outside of Yeovil today while driving, menacing looking wee beastie!
I live in Biggleswade and we see them flying about all the time and I’m not all that sure why. It’s not like it’s a hotbed of insurgency (not that I’ve noticed anyway) and I’m unaware of local training areas.
We have the lovely Old Warden on our doorstep but I have a feeling they don’t visit that.
Is this area in between maintenance hubs perhaps?
OCU is at Middle Wallop and depth support is at Wattisham.
Any interesting cathedral spires your way?
So what’s going to happen after 2023, we just going to sit back and admire our work?
Sign a follow-on contract most likely to maintain all the new kit.
Didn’t read the article properly did we.
Nice choppers, they are so deadly, our new ones will be even more deadly no doubt. I loved how those 2 Royal marines jumped on the side and flew into an enemy compound to try save a fellow RM commando, sadly the guy was dead! But I’m surprised the Apache took off with the size of their balls.
Exposes a sad lack of CSAR helis for us though.
SaR would not have been an option in that particular case. The Apache flew in to an extremely hot area. It was no place for a helicopter at all let alone a SaR aircraft! The only airframe remotely capable of that operation was the Apache. The Combination of the Apache, very brave pilots and crazy brave Soldiers was what got that mission done…
Fair enough Lee but I was envisaging a USAF CSAR heli, not a yellow Sea King!
Why was the Apache able to cope with the hot and high conditions compared to another heli type?
Daniele, I think Lees talking as in number of bullets flying more than temperature. They were all incredibly ballsy on that op personally I feel for the front seaters as the pilots got out to cover the marines and left them only able to see 85% of their surroundings.
What’s happening with the order for the final 12 new builds for us that was supposed to be finalised 2018? Is it happening?
there was a UK sustainabilty program set up to maintain the TADS/PNS for 10+ years and it cost a fortune. what happened? now gone back to LM who actually know SWA about those systems.
Is the UK getting 38 or 50? Is there any indication of how many sights the UK has ordered?