Lockheed Martin Delivers First Production F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System — Press Release

December 1, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Press Releases, development program, production program

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Production F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has marked successful entry into low rate initial production on the F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). The first production units have been delivered to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, TX, for integration onto the aircraft.

Embedded into the F-35’s fuselage with an innovative faceted sapphire window, the low-drag, stealthy EOTS is the world’s first and only sensor combining forward-looking infrared and infrared search and track functionality. The F-35 EOTS will provide Lightning II pilots with significant air-to-air and air-to-ground situational awareness in a single compact and completely passive sensor.

“Our team looks forward to meeting its commitment to provide a superior targeting system to F-35 pilots around the world as we gear up to produce more than 3,000 units,” said Rich Hinkle, program director of F-35 Lightning II EOTS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This delivery marks a pivotal achievement for the EOTS as we transition from a system design and development program to a production program.”

The F-35 EOTS production is ramping up to produce up to 200 units a year. “The outlook for the F-35 program is very strong,” Hinkle said. “Our success in supporting the program is vital to the F-35’s mission to provide dominant airpower across the full air-to-air, air-to-ground mission spectrum.”

The latest generation infrared sensor technology, the F-35 EOTS builds upon the success of Lockheed Martin’s Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod to provide high-resolution imagery, automatic target tracking, infrared-search-and-track, laser designation and range finding, as well as laser spot tracking–all at greatly increased standoff ranges. Modular components allow the F-35 EOTS to be maintained on the flight line for true two-level maintenance.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/

Source: Lockheed Martin

CONTACT: Heather Kelly of Lockheed Martin, +1-407-356-5351,
heather.kelly@lmco.com

Web Site: http://www.lmco.com/

Tags: automatic target, bethesda md, infrared search, laser spot, level maintenance, Lockheed Martin, lockheed martin aeronautics, lockheed martin missiles, passive sensor, prnewswire, resolution imagery, targeting system

Boeing Laser Avenger Shoots Down Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Tests – Press Release

January 26, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Press Releases, Services, U.S. Army, development program, missile defense

Boeing Laser Avenger Shoots Down Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Tests
Jan. 26, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully
demonstrated that a laser system mounted on an Avenger combat vehicle
can shoot down a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) like those that
increasingly threaten U.S. troops deployed in war zones.
During tests last month at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Laser
Avenger achieved its principal test objectives by using its advanced
targeting system to acquire and track three small UAVs flying against a
complex background of mountains and desert. The laser system also shot
down one of the UAVs from an operationally relevant range. These tests
mark the first time a combat vehicle has used a laser to shoot down a
UAV.

Representatives of the U.S. Army’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems
project office observed the tests.

“Small UAVs armed with explosives or equipped with surveillance sensors
are a growing threat on the battlefield,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice
president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems. “Laser
Avenger, unlike a conventional weapon, can fire its laser beam without
creating missile exhaust or gun flashes that would reveal its position.
As a result, Laser Avenger can neutralize these UAV threats while
keeping our troops safe.”

The tests follow a 2007 demonstration in which an earlier version of
Laser Avenger neutralized improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and
unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the ground.

“We doubled the laser power; added sophisticated acquisition, tracking
and pointing capability; and simplified and ruggedized the design,” said
Lee Gutheinz, Boeing program director for High-Energy
Laser/Electro-Optical Systems. “Boeing developed and integrated these
upgrades in less than a year, underscoring our ability to rapidly
respond to warfighters’ needs.”

Laser Avenger integrates a directed energy weapon together with the
kinetic weapons on the proven Avenger air defense system developed by
Boeing Combat Systems in Huntsville, Ala. It is a Boeing-funded
initiative to demonstrate that directed energy weapons are maturing and
are relevant to today’s battlefield.

Boeing leads the way in developing laser systems for a variety of U.S.
Air Force and Army warfighter applications. These systems include the
Airborne Laser, the Advanced Tactical Laser, the High Energy Laser
Technology Demonstrator and the Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
is one of the world’s largest space and defense
businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer
solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of
military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense
Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.

Contact Info:
Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
(703) 414-6138
marc.selinger@boeing.com
Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
(703) 872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

Tags: boeing company, boeing program, combat vehicle, cruise missile defense, directed energy, electro optical systems, energy laser, gutheinz, huntsville ala, laser power, missile defense systems, relevant range, surveillance sensors, targeting system, test objectives, u s army, unmanned aerial vehicle, uxo, white sands missile, white sands missile range

Orbit International’s Power Group Receives $1,389,000 Order for U.S. Naval Anti-Submarine and Anti-Ship Surveillance Targeting System

March 19, 2010 by Business Wire Defense: Contracts News · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orbit International Corp. (NASDAQ:ORBT), a defense electronics manufacturer, systems integrator and software solution provider, today announced that its Power Group, through its Behlman Electronics, Inc. subsidiary (“Behlman”), has received an order for approximately $1,389,000 for a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) power supply for its COTS division to support a U.S. Naval anti-submarine and anti-ship surveillance targeting system. Deliveries under t