Elbit's Vision Systems Int'l wins $75.6m Boeing contract

VSI is Elbit Systems’ joint venture with Rockwell Collins for helmet mounted display (HMD) systems that provide pilots with “first look, first shot” capability.

Globes correspondent 10 Aug 04 10:18

Elbit Systems (Nasdaq:ESLT; TASE:ESLT) today announced that Vision Systems International LLC ( VSI), Elbit Systems’ joint venture with Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL), has been awarded a $75.6 million contract for over 300 joint helmet mounted cueing system (JHMCS)systems from Boeing, St. Louis. This award is the first full rate production (FRP) of JHMCS following four low rate initial production (LRIP) lot deliveries.
Under the contract, VSI will provide JHMCS display systems, spares, technical support and support equipment for the FRP lot 1 acquisition. This procurement fills additional US government domestic requirements for the US Air Force and Air National Guard F-15, F-16 and US Navy F/A-18 platforms as well as foreign military sales production commitments for Australia (F/A-18), Finland (F/A-18), Poland(F-16), Greece (F-16) and Switzerland (F/A-18).

Deliveries under FRP 1 will commence in March 2005 and continue through December 2006. This order brings VSI’s total JHMCS production quantity to more than 1000 systems with more than 500 systems delivered to date.

JHMCS provides pilots with a “first look, first shot” capability when employed with high off-boresight weapons under high-G conditions. The system allows pilots to lock-on and fire at enemy aircraft without having to maneuver their aircraft into position. The pilot needs only to point his head at the target and weapon systems are automatically cued to the target. JHMCS is also highly effective when used in air-to-ground target engagements and was used extensively in this manner in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In both air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, targeting cues and aircraft parameters are displayed on the pilot’s visor.

VSI President Ken Stansell stated that, “The transition to full rate production for JHMCS demonstrates the high level of confidence which both the U.S. Government and Boeing have in VSI’s ability to deliver a high performance, quality product on-time”. He further commented that, ” This production program milestone for JHMCS, combined with our continuing design work on an advanced binocular HMD for the F-35 JSF program and our ongoing production deliveries of the DASH (display and sight helmet), clearly illustrates that VSI is the supplier of choice for helmet mounted display (HMD) systems for fixed-wing fighter aircraft.”

Elbit Systems president and CEO Joseph Ackerman said, “This new contract from Boeing for full rate production of JHMCS further reinforces VSI’s leading role in providing cutting-edge helmet mounted systems to US and international front-line fighter aircraft, and is a testament to the successful cooperation between Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems.”

VSI was established in 1996 as a joint venture between EFW Inc., a subsidiary of Elbit Systems and Rockwell Collins to develop, manufacture and support fixed wing HMDs worldwide.