BRITISH ARMY TRIALS BAE SYSTEMS TERPROM Eagle OWL®

The British Army has successfully completed flight trials of BAE Systems terrain avoidance and cable warning system - TERPROM Eagle OWL®. The trial, on-board an Army Lynx helicopter, follows closely upon similar trials undertaken last year in the US, by the US Navy using Sea Hawk helicopters.

The purpose of this trial was the demonstration and assessment of TERPROM Eagle OWL®'s capability, within a tactical operations environment, to provide the pilot with warnings and cueing of impending threats from terrain, obstructions and wires over various terrain types and during degraded visual conditions.

A high degree of user confidence was gained in TERPROM Eagle OWL® during the trial. The equipment demonstrated good potential for use in operations where inadvertent entry into mandatory instrument flying conditions takes place in mountainous terrain and also for night vision operations in very low ambient light conditions in unfamiliar terrain.

The fusion of data provided by the digital terrain database, together with the information received via the forward-looking scanning laser, allowed a 360-degree assessment of the surrounding environment to be undertaken. The analysis, processing and presentation to the pilot of this fused data by the TERPROM® Digital Terrain System (DTS), provided an enhanced level of situational awareness and flight safety during low-level operations.

About TERPROM Eagle OWL®
TERPROM Eagle OWL® is the world's only fully integrated DTS and obstacle avoidance and cable warning sensor. TERPROM Eagle OW® provides a high accuracy terrain reference navigation solution, warning and cueing of threats from terrain, obstacles and wires and passive terrain following and ranging based on the digital terrain data.

TERPROM Eagle OWL® brings together the experience and expertise of the BAE Systems TERPROM® Team based at Plymouth, UK, with the team responsible for the development of the Obstacle Avoidance and Cable Warning laser, from BAE Systems Australia. TERPROM® has already been selected for a wide range of fast jet programmes world-wide, including F16, Mirage 2000, Harrier GR7, Jaguar, Tornado, A-10 and Eurofighter Typhoon. The transport variant, TERPROM® TAWS (Terrain Awareness Warning Systems), has been selected for the USAF Boeing C17 fleet and RAF C-130 aircraft.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is a systems company, innovating for a safer world. BAE Systems employs nearly 100,000 people including Joint Ventures, and has annual sales of around £13 billion. The company offers a global capability in air, sea, land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products. BAE Systems is dedicated to making the intelligent connections needed to deliver innovative solutions.

For further information contact:
Chris Tear, BAE Systems Avionics
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 722059  Fax: +44 (0) 1752 723124

Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605  Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com

Ref: 244/2002