Parvus to supply tactical computers for US Army's OH-58D helicopters

A US Army OH-58D Kiowa helicopter readies to lift off from Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan. Photo: courtesy of US Army, by Sgt Christopher McCullough/Released.

1 July 2013 army-technology.com

Mercom has awarded a contract to Parvus for supply of tactical computer subsystems for installation onboard the US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior military helicopters.

The $3.3m deal forms part of a $7.2m firm-fixed-price contract awarded by the Army Contracting Command (ACC) to Mercom for acquisition of DuraCOR 810 tactical computers last month.

Under the new contract, Mercom, a Eurotech subsidiary, will supply unspecified units of its DuraCOR 810-Duo tactical computers for integration onto the Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

Fitted with sealed MIL-38999 connectors, integrated EMI/EMC filtering, and MIL-qualified power supply, DuraCOR 810-Duo is a rugged multi-core mission processor subsystem designed for high-reliability applications needing MIL-STD-810G environmental compliance with extreme temperatures, shock/vibration, and ingress.

The computer is based on a modular, open architecture commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) design with an Intel Core2 Duo CPU, solid state disk, as well as MIL-704/1275 power supply and conduction cooled chassis.

"OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a single engine helicopter primarily designed to conduct armed reconnaissance in support of air cavalry troops and light attack crews."

Ideally suited for harsh mobile military and homeland security command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) deployments, the computer is also designed to address and qualified to MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F regulations for installation into size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained aircraft, ground vehicle and maritime platform modernisation programmes.

Manufactured by Bell Helicopter, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a single engine helicopter primarily designed to conduct armed reconnaissance in support of air cavalry troops and light attack crews.

In regular use with the US Army since 1969, the helicopter can also perform joint air attack (JAAT) operations, air combat, limited attack operations, and artillery target designation missions.

Exported to Austria, Canada, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and the Dominican Republic, the helicopter has been manufactured under license in Australia.

Performance period and delivery schedule has not been disclosed by the company.