Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Code AIR-21512A, Washington, DC 20361-2150

16 -- STATUS OF AH-1W INTEGRATED WEAPONS SYSTEM COMPETITION POC Contact, Peggy Ayanian, Phone (703)604-1920 The Department of the Navy has announced the suspension of the AH-1W Super Cobra Integrated Weapons System (IWS) competition based on further review of our requirements for this Marine Corps attack helicopter. The Department of the Navy had planned to first upgrade the Super Cobra cockpit with the IWS, then upgrade the helo with a four-blade rotor system in the future as funding became available. In order to more effectively meet current Marine Corps requirements, the Department is now looking at the feasibility of pursuing procurement of the four-blade rotor system first. Consequently, the Department of the Navy is notifying contractors of its decision to suspend the IWS competition until it can fully evaluate the best course of action to fund these two upgrades. This review will be part of the FY 1997 resource allocation process. A decision on whether to restart or terminate the IWS competition based on this review is expected later this summer. These two proposed upgrades to the Super Cobra are part of the overall program to improve the readiness, reliability and capabilities of the Marine Corps' front-line attack helo. The contract amount for development of the proposed IWS upgrade is estimated at about $60 million. Current estimated value for development of the four-blade rotor system upgrade is between $100 and $200 million. - NAVAIR Synopsis No. 50077-95. (0138)

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