Lockheed Martin’s DAGR Guided Rocket Fires Successfully From Kiowa Warrior Helicopter

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Lockheed Martin’s DAGR Guided Rocket Fires Successfully From Kiowa Warrior Helicopter
UNITED STATES - 29 MARCH 2010

ORLANDO, FL -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] hit the target in two tests featuring DAGR guided rockets launched from an airborne OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. This is the fourth aircraft DAGR has fired from in the past year—prior platforms include the AH-64D Apache and the AH-6 Little Bird.

Two DAGRs were launched from the OH-58D Kiowa in airborne tests, at ranges of 3.5 and 5 km. Both hit within 1 meter of the laser aimpoint.

“With successful flights from the Apache, Little Bird and now Kiowa helicopters, DAGR is rapidly establishing itself as the laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket that our HELLFIRE customers have sought as a low-cost, low collateral damage complement to the HELLFIRE II missile itself,” said Randy Thomas, DAGR program manager at Lockheed Martin.

Because the DAGR system is designed to be compatible with the HELLFIRE family of launchers, it offers potential integration on all rotary-wing HELLFIRE platforms, including the Apache, Little Bird, Kiowa, Blackhawk, Cobra and Tiger helicopters. A mixed loadout of HELLFIREs and DAGRs can be mounted on the same launcher, providing operational flexibility that enables cost-effective multi-mission capability from a single platform.

The DAGR system has demonstrated its precision strike and maneuver capabilities in more than 20 successful guided flight tests, hitting short- and long-range off-axis targets close to the laser-designated aimpoint. This provides Warfighters with increased capability, quick response to “pop-up” threats and an expanded engagement envelope.


Source: Lockheed Martin Corporation

The DAGR baseline system operates and launches the same as HELLFIRE II with no platform modifications.



U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter

 

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Bell Helicopter Supports U.S. Army Kiowa Warriors
UNITED STATES - 16 APRIl 2010

When Lot 13 is complete, a total of 371 U.S. Army Kiowa Warrior helicopters will have been modified to the SEP configuration.

FORT WORTH, Texas | In addition to beginning work in March on the final lot of aircraft in the OH-58D Safety Enhancement Program (SEP), Bell Helicopter is also supporting the Army's Kiowa Warrior program with crash damage repairs and a C-to-D cabin conversion build line.

In March the Army awarded Bell a contract to modify the final 30 OH-58D aircraft scheduled to enter the Kiowa Warrior SEP program. Work on the first aircraft in Lot 13 has already begun at Bell Helicopter's facility in Fort Worth, and the final aircraft are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.

As they move through Bell's SEP Line, the Kiowa Warriors are being upgraded with an improved engine, improved computer control system and related new wiring harnesses. The improvements are part of a series of safety and performance modifications the Army has implemented to keep the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter safe and mission effective throughout its lifespan. When Lot 13 is complete, a total of 371 Kiowa Warriors will have been modified to the SEP configuration.

Bell is also supporting the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) with crash damage repairs on OH-58D aircraft. Three cabins are currently at Bell for repairs. As work on each cabin is completed, it will be shipped to an AMCOM Aviation Field Maintenance Directorate site for installation of dynamic components.

In April 2009 the Army exercised a contract option to have Bell convert one OH-58A cabin into a new OH-58D cabin and complete the non-recurring engineering effort required to establish a cabin build line. Modification work on the first A cabin has begun. The completed D cabin is scheduled for delivery to CCAD next year. A cabin build line will enable the Army to acquire new OH-58D cabins from Bell to replace Kiowa Warrior aircraft whose cabins have been damaged beyond repair.

The US Army fleet of Kiowa helicopters has accumulated more than 600,000 combat flight hours and nearly 2 million total flight hours. Despite unusually high usage rates and daily combat missions in a harsh operating environment, the OH-58D continues to maintain the highest OPTEMPO and highest readiness rates of any Army aircraft in theater.


Source: Bell Helicopter

 

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DRS Receives $20.6m in Orders from U.S. Army for Additional Logistics Support of Kiowa Warrior Mast Mounted Sights
UNITED STATES - 8 JULY 2010

DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has received two delivery orders valued at $20.6 million for logistics support of DRS’ Mast Mounted Sights (MMS).

The orders were issued against a basic five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded in December 2008 that covered repairs from July 2010 through March 2013.

The basic contract with the U.S. Army for logistics support of the MMS includes spares, repairs, support services, field service and forward repair activities in the field.

Included in this most recent award are depot-level repair and return of MMS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs) delivered to DRS through the U.S. Army’s supply system.
The work will be carried out by the Melbourne, Florida operation of DRS Technologies’ Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition (RSTA) business group.
The orders were issued by the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, to fund additional repairs for 2010.
To date, total orders against this contract have exceeded $212 million of its $913 million maximum that it is part of an IDIQ released on February 2009.

Used on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter, the MMS is an electro-optical system that allows Warfighters to identify and target potential threats day or night, through smoke and dust, and in adverse weather conditions.

Bob Klaver, DRS RSTA vice president of Aviation and Maritime Programs said: “Our MMS systems demonstrate operational readiness exceeding 97% which gives users a significant advantage in acquiring, identifying and engaging targets under just about any circumstances. This high level of readiness is largely the result of the U.S. Army’s commitment to keeping critical equipment operating at peak performance through first-rate logistics support. What we bring to the table is outstanding technology backed by ongoing obsolescence and reliability improvements and truly excellent service.”

Terry Murphy, President, DRS Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition (RSTA) stated: “At DRS, our unchanging goal is to provide superior systems and support to our armed forces, in particular, the U.S. Army Aviation units engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Our success in achieving this goal translates into a solid future for our company, and safer, more effective operation for our Warfighters.”


Source: DRS Technologies, Inc.