Carney: Gentex Wins $12.6 Million Advanced Helmet Mounted Display Contract

Press Release

Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10) announced today that Gentex Corporation has been selected to produce the Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeted system for the Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. The $12.6 million subcontract, through the Raytheon Technical Services Company, provides another boost to our regional economy and means the addition of new jobs to the northeast Pennsylvania company. The program includes five one-year production options, with a potential total value up to $50 million.

During his time in Congress, Congressman Carney has secured nearly $5 million in federal investments for Gentex to spur job creation and economic development. In 2007, he secured a $2.7 million federal appropriation for Gentex to develop and test an advanced helmet mounted display system for the Air Force, which helped the company develop the technology within Gentex's ScorpionTM Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS).

"I am very proud of the work that Gentex does for our fighting men and women. This contract will help boost our economy through job creation while also adding to our national security. It is the latest in a long legacy of successes for the company," Congressman Carney said. "I fight to secure investments that our local businesses require to develop state-of-the-art technologies. This is a perfect illustration of the good those investments often bring."

Through the new contract, Gentex will produce the system for the U.S. Air Force's entire fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt and for the Air National Guard/Air Force Reserves' F-16 Block 30/32 aircraft. Through the life of the program, Gentex is expected to supply 574 Scorpion systems at a cost of approximately $50 million.

Gentex's Scorpion system is the world's first color helmet mounted cueing system, according to the firm. It is designed so that airborne warfighters can accurately steer sensors or weapons toward targets with only their eyes. The system cuts down on the time required to find and engage targets and reduces the risk of collateral damage. It also improves the ability to share information between ground systems and aircraft.

Gentex will provide the Scorpion for the HMIT program through the Raytheon Technical Services Company. Raytheon is a designated Prime Contractor under the F2AST program -- a contracting vehicle designed to enable the DoD to rapidly field aircraft improvements.

Source