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US Army contracts Lockheed for Apache Longbow fire control radar work

AH-64 Apache
Photo: Lockheed Martin

The US Army has awarded Longbow Limited Liability Company a five-year sustainment contract for up to $235.8 million to provide post production support services for the AH-64 Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar (FCR) to international customers.

The joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation will be responsible for program and logistics management, repair of system modules as required, replenishment of depot parts, field engineering support, and operator and maintainer training for AH-64D and AH-64E configurations.

“With a tailored sustainment approach, customers have the flexibility to add services as needed based on fleet demands,” said Jim Messina, LBL president and Lockheed Martin program director. “This contract also enhances LBL’s agility to achieve our customers’ sustainability requirements.”

The sustainment IDIQ contract includes initial task orders for 12 foreign military customers in 11 nations, three of which have been awarded, with others planned for transition by year-end. Additional customers may also be added during the five-year contract period of performance.

The Longbow FCR provides Apache aircrews with automatic target detection, location, classification and prioritization, while enabling rapid, multi-target engagement in all weather conditions over multiple types of terrain and through battlefield obscurants.

During the US Army’s AH-64E Apache Follow-On Test and Evaluation II (FOT&E II), the modernized Version 6 Longbow FCR demonstrated a number of new operational modes and capabilities, including maritime, single target track, and 360-degree surveillance mode, as well as extended detection range capability against land, air and sea targets.