Elbit Systems Awarded Frost & Sullivan “New Product Innovation Leadership in Commercial Aviation” for its Skylens™ Wearable Head-Up Display
Haifa, Israel, October 6, 2014 - Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that it received the New Product Innovation Leadership Award” for the Company’s Skylens wearable head-up display (“HUD”) from the prestigious business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to a company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value added features/benefits of the product and the increased return on investment it offers customers, which in turn increases the product’s sales potential and overall market penetration.
Skylens, a revolutionary approach to meeting the challenges of today’s aviators, is a cutting edge HUD technology packed in a wearable, lightweight, easy-to-install device, similar to a pair of sunglasses. Suitable for day and night operations in all weather conditions, the system provides head-up information while minimizing the dependency on airport instrumentation. Skylens and Elbit Systems’ Enhanced Vision Systems (“EVS”) combine to form Elbit Systems’ Enhanced Flight Vision System (“EFVS”). Equipped with Skylens and EVS, aircraft are capable of take-off and landing in low visibility conditions and in locations that previously non EFVS-equipped aircraft could not access.
According to Frost & Sullivan, while HUDs have been well received in general by the aviation industry, Elbit’s Skylens has an edge because its technology is wearable, and this feature facilitates the technology’s integration and adoption. Importantly, this HUD increases the efficiency of the customer’s operations, thereby saving costs.
Skylens was designed and built for use by commercial aviation customers worldwide. The system provides a unique solution for retrofitting existing platforms, including small cockpit airplanes and helicopters. The system, which is in advanced stages of airworthiness certification, is expected to enter into service by end of 2016.
Frost & Sullivan Consultant Thomas Saquer noted that: “Elbit’s Skylens HUD is affordable as it can be easily installed and it integrates in one light, wearable system all the necessary features of the HUD such as EFVS. Skylens can potentially reduce dependence on airport equipment, as well as day and night vision in all weather conditions. It is the ideal device to support the pilot during take-off and approach flight phases, while improving the airline’s operations as it allows the aircraft to land in difficult conditions at many airports.” Saquer continued: “As the HUD has to be wearable and comfortable, it is designed to be very light and closer in appearance to a sunglass with a large visor rather than a helmet, which would be bulkier, heavier and possibly, prevent adoption. Evidently, Elbit Systems has designed the wearable HUD system keeping in mind end-user requirements and perceptions, paying close attention to the demands of long-haul flights.”
For more than 30 years, Elbit Systems has been a market leader in the field of night vision and enhanced vision systems in the military and commercial aviation market, supporting thousands of helicopters, business jets and other aircraft. To date the company has delivered over 10,000 HUDs , Helmet Mounted Displays (“HMDs”) and EVS for military and civil aircraft operators worldwide, which have accrued more than 2,000,000 operational hours.
About Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS"), advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence ("SIGINT") systems, data links and communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.
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