BAE Systems HIDAS to Protect Greece's Apache Helicopters

BAE Systems, The Greek Government has signed the US Government FMS (Foreign Military Sales) Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase BAE Systems HIDAS for its Longbow Apache attack helicopters.  
 
The aircraft, to be provided by the Boeing Company will be equipped with HIDAS (Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System) to meet the requirement for an advanced, programmable electronic self-protection system. The HIDAS configuration selected for Greece's Apaches, is the same as that specified by the UK MoD for their Apache Longbows which are soon to enter service with the British Army.  
 
This will be the second FMS sale for HIDAS, following on from a similar sale to Kuwait in September 2002, and represents the benefits of the global presence of BAE Systems.  
 
BAE Systems co-operates closely with Boeing, Mesa, Arizona and is delighted to be part of the ever-increasing Apache user community.  
 
HIDAS, the Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System, designed and manufactured by BAE Systems, detects, identifies, prioritises and counters threats to the Apache helicopter, without the need for crew intervention. It is unique for its degree of integration, its use of 'best of class' sensors and its intelligent software controller. The HIDAS controller uses information from its multi-spectral threat warning sensors to produce a comprehensive tactical picture. It then uses the pre-defined mission data to enable HIDAS to recognise the threatening weapon system, and to automatically select and implement the appropriate countermeasure.  
 
HIDAS can be used in Automatic, Semi-automatic or Manual mode, thus offering significant operational benefits to the Apache aircrew. It increases their situational awareness, reduces the time to react to threats and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of countermeasures. In short, it enhances survivability on the battlefield, where crew workload is at its highest.  
 
HIDAS is fully programmable by the user to detect and counter enemy weapon systems, providing for a mission library of over 5,000 threat modes. The BAE Systems Merlin integrated EW operational support system enables the user to create his own mission libraries, specifying the required countermeasures, and to carry out post-flight analysis of mission data.  
 
BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately