Lockheed Martin — the aerospace giant based in Bethesda, Maryland — has won a $90.6 million contract from the US army to provide its night-vision sensor systems to the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Production will take place at the group’s Orlandoand Ocala facilities in Florida.

Launched in 2005, the system gives Apache pilots long-range, precision engagement and ‘pilotage’ capabilities for safe flight during day, night and adverse-weather missions. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,250 of these systems to the US army and international customers.

Mike Taylor, Apache international programme director at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control, said: “The Qatar Emiri Air Force will be one of the first international customers to receive the system equipped with our new Modernised Laser Range Finder Designator, which is much more reliable than the previous model, improves targeting performance and can be repaired or replaced on the flight line — significantly reducing operation and support costs.”