The General Dynamics "soldier-as-a-system" solution includes an integrated aviator helmet system, upgraded microclimate cooling unit and enhanced voice/data communication capability.
The contract is valued at $30 million over five years. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command of Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority.
The Air Warrior program is the largest development and production program for Army aircrew equipment.
It standardizes and integrates Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE), which is designed to sustain aircrews throughout the flight environment by increasing their mission effectiveness and providing means of safe and reliable escape, survival, and recovery in emergency or combat situations.
The Air Warrior Block 3 system will be compatible with multiple helicopter types, including the CH-47 Chinook, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, AH-64 Apache and UH- 60 Blackhawk, and will be designed for future interoperability with the Army's Land Warrior and Future Combat Systems programs.
"The Air Warrior system will provide helicopter crews increased mission effectiveness through aviator-centered system design with high technology electronics and survival equipment," said Mark Fried, president and general manager of General Dynamics C4 Systems.
"General Dynamics will leverage our proven systems integration abilities to lead an expert team of contractors that has more than a decade of experience in developing integrated warrior systems for both infantry and aviators."
As lead system integrator, General Dynamics has brought together a team of partners that includes: Boeing (Mesa, Ariz.); Dynamics Research Corporation (Huntsville, Ala.); Foster-Miller (Waltham, Mass.); Hamilton Sundstrand (Windsor Locks, Conn.); Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.); Navigator Development Group, Inc. (Enterprise, Ala.); and Sikorsky (Stratford, Conn.).
Block 1 of the Air Warrior system provided an initial system capability including the development, procurement, and fielding of a microclimate cooling system (MCS), an integrated survival gear carriage and ballistic protection system, improved over-water protective equipment, and a lightweight chemical and biological (CB) protective ensemble.
The ongoing Block 2 technology insertion program provides additional capabilities, including an Electronic Data Manager (EDM) and an Aircraft Wireless Intercom System (AWIS).