Elbit Systems of America Demonstrates at AUSA Advanced Cockpit Capabilities that Provide Army Aviators with Innovative Solutions to Improve Critical Mission Effectiveness

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Elbit Systems of America will demonstrate its cockpit advancements at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Washington, D.C., October 12-14.  These highly technical solutions give Army Aviators clarity during bad weather and poor conditions to improve their mission effectiveness.

Elbit Systems of America understands that to improve the ability for aviators to negotiate poor flying conditions, sensors must see through the dark night to the terrain and obstructions; flight controls should provide increased stability and possible automate landings, complex computing should handle the fusion of multiple sensors and conformal symbology; and, the cueing (helmet tracking) and conformal symbology should provide relevant representations of the world around the crew.  With these requirements in mind, Elbit Systems is investing heavily in research and development to provide solutions that enable pilots to battle the enemy, not the flying conditions.

Line-of-sight helmet trackers, traditionally reserved for attack aircraft such as the Apache, will soon play a major role in cargo and utility aircraft. The compelling reason behind this transition is Degraded Visual Environments, better known as "DVE." DVE is anything that limits the pilots' ability to clearly see terrain, obstacles, or other visual references around the aircraft. The hazard could be fog, smoke, dust, rain, or an extremely dark night and can be encountered during any phase of the mission.

"Imagine yourself as a pilot on a Black Hawk or Chinook flying low level with a full load of troops during a dark and increasingly foggy night.  That's DVE…and it's perilous," commented Raanan Horowitz, President and CEO of Elbit Systems of America.  "Speak with any pilot at AUSA and they will tell you about their particular harrowing night or the tragic loss of a friend due to similar circumstances."

As world-leader in helmet tracking solutions and color helmet mounted displays, Elbit Systems currently offers advanced cueing software that provides detailed takeoff and landing information for helicopter pilots to use in brownout conditions. But these displays are only the beginning of the DVE solution.

"The brains of our tracked helmet system is the Advanced Signal Data Computer (ASDC), which is our entry point into the complex computing  required to synthesize multiple unstructured video and data streams into meaningful situational awareness imagery for the pilot," continued Horowitz. "The next generation ASDC, which is in development now, will be even more powerful, and will be the first processor of its type built to be certified as a primary flight display for pilotage."

Elbit Systems is also developing a distributed aperture system for rotorcraft that is focused on improving night pilotage, but has growth potential to employ advanced sensors that can see through atmospheric and battlefield obscurants.

"The challenge," said Horowitz "is to fuse the imagery provided by sensors and databases into a smoothly stitched scene, with near-zero latency. As our processing technology grows, we are getting closer to that golden standard."

Elbit Systems advanced sensors and symbology are also available for the C-26 or special mission aircraft pilots who are concerned about low visibility that produces landing and taxiing dangers. Flying with the Elbit Systems of America Enhanced Vision System-Superior Performance (EVS-SP™), the system allows flight operations in darkness, smoke, haze, rain, fog, and other weather conditions. The EVS-SP offers the latest proven technology in cooled enhanced vision systems, by providing outstanding capabilities in degraded visibility along with high resolution in a single, weight-saving unit. The aircraft equipped with the EVS-SP displayed on a HUD will experience improved safety and better situational awareness. In addition, aircraft equipped with EVS-SP displayed on a HUD have FAA authorization to descend below 200 ft. decision height using the EVS in lieu of normal vision on any CAT I approach.

When the Head-Up Display (HUD) is integrated with an EVS system, a pilot's awareness in critical phases of flight, during reduced visibility, is enhanced. The integration of the two systems allows military aircraft to safely land, taxi and takeoff in poor weather conditions. The aircrew can then provide rapid strategic delivery of troops and cargo to main operating bases.

To learn more about improving situational awareness in poor flying conditions, visit Elbit Systems of America at AUSA, booth # 1139 (Hall A) or visit them online at www.elbitsystems-us.com.

About Elbit Systems of America, LLC  
Elbit Systems of America is a leading provider of high performance products, system solutions, and support services focusing on the commercial aviation, defense, homeland security, cyber security, and medical instrumentation markets.  With facilities throughout the United States, Elbit Systems of America is dedicated to supporting those who contribute daily to the safety and security of the United States.  Elbit Systems of America, LLC is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT), a global electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications. For additional information, visit: www.elbitsystems-us.com or follow us on Twitter.

About Elbit Systems  
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial 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 aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios and cyber-based systems. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems. 
For additional information, visit: www.elbitsystems.com or follow us on Twitter.

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Elbit Systems of America and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered or unregistered marks of Elbit Systems of America companies in the United States and in foreign countries.  Copyright © 2015 Elbit Systems of America.  All rights reserved.

Forward Looking Statement  
This press release contains forward‑looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact.  Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.  Forward‑looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward‑looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings.  The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward‑looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Contact: Shari Clarkson I 682-286-2363 I [email protected]

SOURCE Elbit Systems of America

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