Detectors & Imaging

US Army awards Raytheon multispectral imaging contract for helicopters

Nov. 18, 2011

Waltham, MA--Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $14.6 million contract by the US Army to develop new image processing technology for the ADAS--a multispectral imaging technology that gives helicopter pilots 360-degree situational awareness.

Conard Holton

Waltham, MA--Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $14.6 million contract by the US Army to develop new image processing technology for the Advanced Distributed Aperture System (ADAS)--a multispectral imaging technology that gives helicopter pilots 360-degree situational awareness that improves aircraft and crew survivability when operating in low visibility conditions.

The new processor will significantly enhance the system's high-resolution imagery. The technology upgrade includes thermal sensing cameras and a next-generation helmet-mounted display subsystem. Together these capabilities will enable full-spherical situational awareness in daytime or total darkness, supporting safer flight operations in environments of degraded visibility.

In April 2011, Raytheon successfully completed the integration of ADAS capabilities required by the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration. During flight testing, ADAS demonstrated mid-wavelength infrared and near-infrared image fusion, local area processing, hostile-fire indication, landing-assist symbols that appear on the helmet display for operation in low visibility, and infrared search and track.

The contract was awarded by the Army's Research Development and Engineering Command; Cmmunications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center; and Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate. Flight demonstrations were conducted at Army facilities in Virginia and Alabama. Flight testing for the new image processor upgrade is expected to begin in late 2012.

SOURCE: Raytheon

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.