Orbital ATK to equip Iraqi C-208 aircraft with MX-15 HD EO/IR systems

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Orbital ATK
 
 
Orbital ATK to equip Iraqi C-208 aircraft with MX-15 HD EO/IR systems
 
The US-based defense contractor Orbital ATK has been awarded a $17mn contract to fully develop and implement a modification in Iraq to install five MX-15 HD systems and upgrade all Cessna 208 aircraft to HD video, the US Department of Defense announced on Dec. 19.
     
Orbital ATK to equip Iraqi  C 208 aircraft with MX 15 HD EO IR systems 640 001A Cessna 208 Caravan assigned to the Iraqi air force Flying Training Wing at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, flies over northern Iraq during a recent training mission
(Credit: USAF/Lt. Col. Scott Voskovitch)
     
"Work will be performed in Iraq, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 1, 2018. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to Iraq," the US Dod said on its website.

The MX-15 one of the most popular family of imaging systems designed and produced by L-3 Wescam. Each MX-15HD turret includes long-range electro-optical payloads and a powerful large format 20-micron IR sensor. Continuous 24/7 EO imaging is also made possible in extreme low-light conditions, and even in complete darkness, using WESCAM’s CMCCD MX-Night Spotter and Laser Illuminated Night Spotter Technology.

The Iraqi Air Force currently operates a fleet of seven C-208 aircraft, among which four are modified for ground attack (one crashed in March 2016) and three are modified for ISR missions.