ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Aviation, the Apache Program Management Office and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently received the 2011 U.S. Secretary of Defense Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Award for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.

The team received the sub-system level PBL award, one of three awards given annually to recognize government/industry teams that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in providing warfighters with exceptional operational capability.

"The PBL approach allows our team to strategically attack reliability, maintainability and obsolescence issues in ways that were not previously possible, fundamentally changing the way we operate," said Terri Schwierling, director of the U.S. Army's Integrated Materiel Management Center Apache Sustainment Division.  "This approach decreased the average sustainment cost by 57 percent.  It is the most fiscally responsible, soldier-friendly tool that we have used to date."

The Apache M-TADS/PNVS PBL program provides efficiencies in supply chain management that have increased reliability and system readiness for the warfighter.  This PBL program is a comprehensive sustainment solution that enables outstanding fleet mission capability, improves reliability and maintainability, and reduces sustainment costs using innovative supply concepts.

"Apache Sensors PBL is truly a model for how we can do business; it provides balanced, cost-effective, and timely support to our soldiers in the states and those deployed abroad," said Lt. Col. Steve Van Riper, product manager of U.S. Army Apache Sensors.  "The Apache logistics team works hard each day to make the PBL effort a success.  I am absolutely thrilled that their accomplishments have been recognized at the Department of the Army level."  

"The M-TADS/PNVS PBL program supports over 670 U.S. Army Apache aircraft in 25 battalions worldwide, including multiple forward operating bases," said David Belvin, program director of Apache fire control programs in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.  "These critical supportability efforts contribute to the overall mission success of the Apache and the soldier."

M-TADS/PNVS modernizes the U.S. Army's TADS/PNVS, known as the "eyes of the Apache," by upgrading the infrared sensors and associated electronics.  It provides Apache pilots the most advanced long-range, electro-optical precision engagement and pilotage capabilities, ensuring safe flight during day, night and adverse-weather missions.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin