SAN JOSE, Calif. (October 23, 2007) - Vision Systems International, LLC (VSI), the leader in advanced Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) technology, today announced the receipt of several new contracts with a total value of more than $80 million.
The Boeing Company awarded VSI a contract for the delivery of more than 400 additional Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS). VSI also received direct contracts from the United States Navy and Air Force for spares and test equipment in support of the JHMCS program.
Under the production contract, VSI will provide JHMCS hardware, including spares, technical support and support equipment for the Full Rate Production - Lot 3 (FRP-3) acquisition. This procurement fills U.S. government domestic requirements for the USAF F-15 and F-16, ANG F-15, USN F/A-18 single-seat and dual- seat platforms as well as foreign military sales production and spares commitments including: Poland
(F-16), Netherlands (F-16), Turkey (F-16), Australia
(F/A-18), Switzerland (F/A-18) and Canada (F/A-18). Deliveries under FRP-3 will commence next year and continue through 2008.
"As VSI celebrates its 10-year anniversary, our helmet mounted display systems or enabling sub-systems are on every current US production front-line fighter aircraft. The true test of a system is user - in this case, fighter pilot - acceptance, said Jim Wojtasek, president of VSI. "We find ourselves in an enviable position where fighter pilot demand has actually accelerated production, forcing us to increase capacity for JHMCS."
The JHMCS provides the pilot with "first look, first shot" high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilites. The system enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets without the need to aggressively turn the aircraft or place the target in the Head-Up Display (HUD) for designation. Critical information and symboloty, such as targeting cues and aircraft performance paramenters, are graphically displayed directly on the pilot's visor.
Formed in 1996, VSI, is a joint venture between EFW Inc., an Elbit Systems of America company and a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT), and Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) to develop, manufacture and support fixed wing HMDs worldwide. With a hertiage of more than 35 years of design and development experience in display systems, VSI today is the leading supplier of fixed-wing HMDs. In addition to the JHMCS, VSI is in development of the advanced HMD for the F-35 (JSF), in development of the QuadEye Night Vision Cueing & Display (NVCD) for the US Navy, and in production on the DASH (Display and Sight Helmet) Generation IV HMD under multiple contracts to Lockheed Martin.
