Army orders 26 thermal imaging infrared sensor pods for Black Hawk helicopters from FLIR Systems

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala., 5 Jan. 2011. U.S. Army aviation officers needed thermal imaging systems for long-range airborne applications. They found their solution from FLIR Systems Inc. in Wilsonville, Ore. FLIR won a $15.9 million contract on 28 Dec. for 26 Star SAFIRE II night vision and infrared camera systems from Army Aviation & Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The contract also includes 10 operator classes and 10 maintenance classes.

The FLIR Systems Star SAFIRE II airborne infrared sensor pod is Airworthiness Release (AWR)-certified for the Army's UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The Star SAFIRE II provides 320-by-240-pixel indium antimonide thermal imaging.

The aircraft sensor pod can carry as many as five separate payloads, including long-range thermal imager, low-light TV, ultra long-range spotter scope, laser rangefinder and laser illuminator.

FLIR Systems will do the work in Wilsonville, Ore., and should be finished by the end of this year. For more information contact FLIR Systems online at www.gs.flir.com, or Army Aviation & Missile Command at www.army.mil.