Smiths Aerospace is supplying its new generation cockpit voice and data recorder (VADR) systems for the MH-47 Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters operated by the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Regiment and the U.S. Coast Guard’s HH-60 Jayhawk and HH-65 Dolphin. Manufactured at Smiths’ facilities in Michigan, the VADR is claimed to be the most capable and reliable solid-state recorder on the market today. The combined value of the contracts is more than $4 million.

Another U.S. Army contract worth $5 million covers the installation and demonstration of a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) on UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. HUMS acquires, stores and processes aircraft structural, engine, drive train, electrical and voice data. Benefits include reduced operations and support costs, enhanced force protection, accelerated flow of accurate information and improved maintainability.