Curtiss-Wright Corporation today announced that it has received a contract from American Eurocopter Corporation, an operating unit of EADS North America, to provide its Video Management System (VMS) for the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Security & Support (S&S) Battalion Mission equipment Package. The estimated value of the contract is $20 million based upon projected helicopter production and deliveries over the next five years.

"Curtiss-Wright provides hardware and components deployed on almost every major U.S. Army helicopter platform. We are proud to continue that support by partnering with EADS North America and American Eurocopter to deliver the advanced high definition, multi-screen aerial surveillance capability provided by the Skyquest VMS system," said Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

Curtiss-Wright will provide American Eurocopter with its advanced airborne surveillance system, which is designed, developed and manufactured at the company's Motion Control segment facility in East London, UK. American Eurocopter will integrate the Skyquest VMS system onto the S&S Battalion-configured Lakota helicopters. The contract will continue through 2015. EADS North America has 187 Lakota helicopters on order from the Army, with potential for up to 345 helicopters through 2015.

Each Lakota LUH fitted with the S&S Battalion Mission Equipment Package will utilize three multi-function mission displays, a dual-deck digital video recorder and the VMS processor. The Skyquest VMS delivers extensive video capability and flexibility to aircrews across a variety of missions. It provides comprehensive management of video on board the aircraft and enables operators to enhance use of their gyro-stabilized camera system while viewing multiple video sources simultaneously. Skyquest's surveillance system also provides previously unavailable video switching, recording and transmitting capabilities.

Leading law enforcement and military customers in several countries throughout the world field the Skyquest VMS currently, including the UK Ministry of Defence and most UK law enforcement operators. The equipment has proven to be well suited for demanding airborne surveillance missions and reliable in harsh environments.