US approves sale of night vision equipment to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The US Department of Defense has awarded a $284.6 million contract to Lockheed Martin to produce infrared target sight systems for the US Navy and Pakistan.

The system will be used for the AH1Z Cobra attack helicopters, which have proved very effective in combat against militants, particularly in difficult terrains. The TSS incorporates a third generation forward looking infrared sensor that provides target sighting in day-night or adverse weather conditions.

A Pentagon press release describes the TSS system as a large aperture midwave forward looking infrared sensor with a laser designator rangefinder turret. It provides the capability to identify and laser designate targets at maximum weapon range significantly enhancing platform survivability and lethality.

The company's Orlando-based missile and fire control unit will produce the sight system in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, through January 2022 for the US Navy and Pakistan under the foreign military sales portion of the award the Pentagon release said.

The contract has a base value of $150.96 million but its accumulative cost would go up to $284.6 million. The government of Pakistan will pay about 12 per cent of the total cost through an arrangement with the US under the Foreign Military Sales programme.

In January Lockheed Martin received a smaller contract of $14 million to provide the same target system for Pakistan. 

The contracts include software development and testing system modification and installation requirements to integrate the TSS into the Cobra helicopters.

The TSS provides target information and tracking data for the helicopter in addition to passive targeting for integrated weapons.  Work on the first contract performed in Florida would be completed by December 2017.