Elbit's VSI awarded over $100m in smart helmet contracts

Vision Systems International, an Elbit-Rockwell Collins joint venture, will supply joint helmet mounted cueing systems to Boeing, the US Navy and Air Force.

Globes correspondent 1 Nov 05 11:42

Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) announced today that its US subsidiary, Vision Systems International LLC (VSI), has received several new contracts with a total potential value of more than $100 million.
VSI develops advanced helmet mounted display (HMD) technology. VSI was established in 1996 as a joint venture between EFW Inc., an Elbit Systems of America company and Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) to develop, manufacture and support fixed wing HMDs worldwide.

The Boeing Company has awarded VSI a contract for the delivery of more than 500 additional joint helmet mounted cueing systems (JHMCS). VSI also received direct contracts from the US Navy and Air Force for spares and test equipment in support of the JHMCS program.

The JHMCS provides the pilot with “first look, first shot” high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilities. The system enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets while performing high-G aircraft maneuvers. Critical information and symbology, such as targeting cues and aircraft performance parameters, are graphically displayed directly on the pilot’s visor.

In addition to the JHMCS, VSI is developing the advanced HMD for the F-35 (JSF), the QuadEye night vision cueing system (NVCD) for the US Navy and is in production on the display and sight helmet (DASH) generation IV HMD under multiple contracts to Lockheed Martin.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – http://www.globes.co.il – on Tuesday, November 01, 2005