BAE Systems selects Mercury's Synthetic Vision display for rotorcraft brownout landing system
Rotorcraft brownouts are intense, blinding dust clouds that result from helicopter rotor downwash, which is the forcing of air downward during the creation of lift from dry, dusty terrain. As a result, pilots cannot see nearby objects that provide the outside visual references necessary to control the aircraft near the ground during landing and take-off operations.
"We're pleased to be working with Mercury to help solve the very serious challenge civilian and military helicopter pilots face when trying to safely land in zero-visibility conditions," said John McKelvey, Business Development Director - Defense Avionics at BAE Systems. "This contract expands our breadth of engagement to provide a viable, dependable solution to a growing problem that affects all rotorcraft that take-off and land in arid conditions, from medflight crews to deployed military troops."
Mercury's Synthetic Vision display with the patent-pending Morphing Terrain Engine will be integrated with a radar sensor from BAE Systems. When terrain and obstacles are detected, Mercury's Synthetic Vision will generate a computerized 3D terrain map drawn from databases and sensor readings, allowing pilots to "see" the surrounding terrain and obstacles whether or not they have visibility outside their window.
"Mercury is proud to continue its work with BAE Systems, and to be able to apply our expertise in Synthetic Vision technology to this critical application," said Philippe Roy, Director and General Manager of the Avionics and Unmanned Systems Group at Mercury.
Flight tests for the rotorcraft brownout landing system are expected to begin in 2008. For more information on Mercury's Morphing Terrain Synthetic Vision:
-- Contact Dr. Chad Jennings, Manager of Business Development for the
Avionics and Unmanned Systems Group, at (650) 430-0458,
Email Contact.
-- Visit www.mc.com/morph_terrain_engine.
-- Contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951.
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. - Where Challenges Drive Innovation
Mercury Computer Systems is the leading provider of computing systems and software for data-intensive applications that include image processing, signal processing, and visualization. With a strong commitment to innovation, our expertise in algorithm optimization, systems development, and silicon design is blended with software application knowledge and industry-standard technologies to solve unique computing challenges. We work closely with our customers to architect solutions that have a meaningful impact on everyday life: detecting aneurysms; designing safer, more fuel-efficient aircraft; identifying security threats; discovering oil; developing new drugs; and visualizing virtually every aspect of scientific investigation.
Mercury's comprehensive, purpose-built solutions capture, process, and present data for the world's largest medical imaging companies, 8 of the 10 top defense prime contractors, and other leading Fortune 500 and mid-market companies in semiconductor, energy, telecommunications, and other industries. Our dedication to performance excellence and collaborative innovation continues a 24-year history in enabling customers to stay at the forefront of the markets they serve.
v Mercury is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and serves customers worldwide through a broad network of direct sales offices, subsidiaries, and distributors. We are listed on the Nasdaq National Market (NASDAQ: MRCY). Visit Mercury at www.mc.com.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Mercury Real-Time Terrain Morphing Engine and Synthetic Vision display. You can identify these statements by our use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued geo-political unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, continued funding of defense programs, the timing of such funding, changes in the U.S. Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, and difficulties in retaining key customers. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.
Contacts:
Chad Jennings, Ph.D.
Manager of Business Development
Avionics and Unmanned Systems
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
650-430-0458 / Email Contact
Leigh McLeod
Media Relations
Corporate Marketing
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
978-967-1120 / Email Contact
Kathy Sniezek, Public Relations Manager
Corporate Marketing
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
978-967-1126 / Email Contact
VistaNav is a trademark of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.