PARIS, France: FLIR Systems, Inc announced today that Sikorsky, with U.S. Army concurrence, selected the Talon for its HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The U.S. Army will utilize these sensors in combat search and rescue and MEDEVAC missions flown by active U.S. Army, U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units.
“Sikorsky, in conjunction with the U.S. Army, selected the Talon for its unparalleled versatility and ability to be integrated seamlessly using existing FLIR Systems’ mountings on HH-60M Black Hawks,” said William A. Sundermeier, president of FLIR Government Systems. “The Talon has served as the eyes for search and rescue missions in some the harshest environments in the world and we are eager to have it support U.S. Army Black Hawk MEDEVAC missions.”
Based on FLIR’s spiral development model, the Talon represents the latest generation of 9″ multi-sensor systems used throughout the National Guard, Army Aviation community, U.S. Navy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and numerous countries abroad. The Talon’s program-based legacy of reliable operation in extreme environments is unparalleled. As the only U.S. produced lightweight, gyro-stabilized 9″ multi-sensor EO/IR turret, the Talon was designed to operate on a variety of rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, land vehicles, ships and small boats. The system boasts proven efficiency by maximizing training dollars with safe and easy operation, and the ability to achieve true commonality.
“This latest contract award reiterates the confidence that Sikorsky and the U.S. Army have in our EO/IR systems,” said Sundermeier. “Many of the U.S. Army’s Sikorsky Black Hawk MEDEVAC fleet are currently operating with the FLIR Systems’ Star SAFIRE II and we are honored that they have decided to continue the relationship by selecting the Talon for the Black Hawk HH-60M’s EO/IR needs.”
FLIR Systems has delivered more than 200 sensors for Black Hawk operations with U.S. government agencies including the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, as well as six allied nations.
FLIR Government Systems, a division of FLIR Systems, Inc., is a world leader in the design, qualification, and manufacture of thermal imaging and stabilized EO/IR systems for a wide variety of airborne, maritime, land based and man-portable applications. FLIR Systems is headquartered in Portland Oregon, with service and manufacturing facilities worldwide.
