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VSI expands HMD product line, targets new market opportunities
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom (July 15, 2008) - Vision Systems International, LLC (VSI), in collaboration with Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESL), announced today a new product line
of Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) - the Helmet Mounted Avionics (HMA) suite. These products will serve an adjacent segment
of the fixed wing fighter marketplace, providing a major advancement in pilot situational awareness.
One derivative of the HMA suite is HMD Lite, which is designed for use at any required level of integration. Traditionally,
HMDs are only used in premier front-end fighters, such as the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and F-35 due to high integration costs. The
HMD Lite is easily integrated into any aircraft's avionics, providing all the benefits of prior HMDs, which include helmet
visor projected imagery and symbology, precision head tracking and cueing. In addition, it also offers an upgrade of avionics
capabilities such as navigation, audio and video recording, training, simulation and mission management. These capabilities
come with minimal hardware modifications and are lower in cost, while maintaining the safety and much of the functionality
of VSI's other HMDs.
"HMD Lite represents a family of capabilities that can be uniquely tailored to each customer's aircraft needs," said VSI President
Drew Brugal. "This new product line brings the demonstrated benefits of our HMDs that are currently being flown in the world's
premier front line fighters to a much broader group of aircraft, such as search and rescue, trainer, transport, utility and
light attack/fighter platforms. We even see application for paramilitary, police and other government fixed wing operators
at a price point they can afford, with an integration spectrum from completely stand-alone to fully integrated."
About VSI
Formed in 1996, VSI, is a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America, LLC (ESA), a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd/ (NASDAQ:
ESLT), and Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL). VSI was formed to develop, manufacture and support fixed wing HMDs worldwide. VSI
today is a leading supplier of fixed-wing HMDs worldwide. In addition to the JHMCS production, VSI is developing the advanced
HMD for the F-35 (JSF), the QuadEye™ Night Vision Cueing & Display (NVCD) system for JHMCS equipped US Navy and US Air Force
aircraft, and is also producing the Display and Sight Helmet (DASH) Generation IV HMD under multiple contracts.
About Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout
the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval
systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned air
vehicle (UAV) systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems,
data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military
platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications.
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