Sikorsky's Armed BLACK HAWK(TM) (ABH) Demonstrator Completes Weapons Test Phase
June 15 2009 - 5:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
CYCLONE, Israel, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
and Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) announced today successful
completion of the test phase for the Armed BLACK HAWK(TM) (ABH)
demonstrator helicopter, also known as the BATTLEHAWK(TM)
helicopter. Achieving this milestone clears the way for Sikorsky to
begin offering production proposals for customers to convert
existing BLACK HAWK helicopters or order new production aircraft in
the armed configuration. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United
Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/SIKORSKYLOGO ) The
testing phase was conducted to establish the safe operation of the
weapons and weapons management system, as well as to gather data on
the systems. An optical missile, a laser-guided rocket, and a 20-mm
turreted gun were all fired successfully. The demonstrator
configuration also includes Elbit cockpit displays, a Mission
Management system with Digital Map, Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR)
and ANVIS/HUD(R) helmet systems with cueing capabilities integrated
into the avionics suite. The demonstrator completed its first
flight on Sept. 9, 2008 at the Elbit Systems' Cyclone facility in
Israel. Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino said, "The results of
the live fire testing demonstrate that the utility BLACK HAWK
aircraft platform also can serve as an attack helicopter, providing
additional firepower and mission flexibility. The BLACK HAWK
helicopter has proven its value for the last three decades in
military service all over the world, and continues to evolve as a
modern multi-purpose platform for all branches of the armed
forces." The production BATTLEHAWK helicopter will come equipped
with a full suite of armed reconnaissance and attack capabilities,
including an integrated helmet display and such weapons options as
missiles, rockets, and fixed forward and turreted guns. These
options will be available on new-build aircraft or as a kit that
can be retrofitted onto existing BLACK HAWK helicopter platforms.
The BATTLEHAWK helicopter will provide medium-lift capability and
firepower that cannot be duplicated by current dedicated utility or
attack platforms. The aircraft can be used in either combat or
peacetime for such missions as troop transport, search and rescue,
and disaster relief. In the modern battlefield, the BATTLEHAWK
helicopter combines unique capabilities of advanced attack and
accurate weapons delivery with deployment of fast-reaction teams.
The ABH demonstrator program is a cooperative effort between
Sikorsky Aircraft and the government of Israel in conjunction with
Elbit Systems, as the Israeli industry's leading representative and
prime contractor for mission, avionics and weapon systems
integration. The program's purpose is to produce an armed
demonstrator for evaluation by the Israeli Air Force. An evaluation
phase for that purpose will begin this month and continue through
October 2009. Sikorsky Aircraft and the government of Israel signed
a memorandum of understanding in September 2005. Elbit Systems,
based in Haifa, Israel, was selected to be the sub-systems supplier
in February 2006 through an RFP process that was initiated in
December 2005. More than 3,000 BLACK HAWK helicopter variants have
been delivered to 27 governments worldwide since 1978, accumulating
more than 9 million combined flight hours. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.,
based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design,
manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in
Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products
and support services to the aerospace and building systems
industries. This press release contains forward-looking statements
concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government
procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft
to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and
support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from
time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings. http://www.sikorsky.com/
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/SIKORSKYLOGO
DATASOURCE: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. CONTACT: Paul Jackson,
+1-203-386-7143, , or Marianne Heffernan, +1-203-386-4373, , of
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Web Site: http://www.sikorsky.com/
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