Defense electronics developer Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) subsidiary Elbit Systems of America, LLC won a deal with the US Marines to develop and install its tactical video data link (TVDL) in the AH-1W attack helicopter.
The contract NAVAIR (Marine Corps and Naval Air Systems Command) contract is worth about $15.6 million through 2010 including installation into fleet helicopters.
The deal comes about a week after another Marines contract, for the supply of Head-Over Display systems, for the same helicopter model. That deal was for $8.2 million.
The current deal covers the development, production and installation of retrofit kits to incorporate TVDL into the AH-1W platform.
Elbit Systems of America will be assisted in the effort by subcontractors Tadiran Spectralink and Service Support Associates Inc. (SSAI). Elbit Systems of America was chosen based upon the previously successful flight demonstration of TVDL in June 2008 at Patuxent River NAS, Maryland.
According to Elbit, the TVDL will provide US Marine Corps helicopter pilots with live UAS video and targeting information combined with the ability to retransmit this video and/or on board sensor video to other aircraft or and ground forces.
Shares in Elbit closed yesterday at $65.25.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 20, 2010
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