[SatNews] Worth more than $5 million over the next five years, VAWS development is now in the works.

The U.S. Army awarded ORBIT Communication Systems, Inc. (USA), a subsidiary of Orbit Technologies Ltd. (TASE: ORBI) a contract for the production and delivery of the VAWS, Voice Altitude Warning Systems, for its combat deployed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. This IDIQ contract has the potential of reaching a value of over $5 million over the next five years. The US Army has once again selected ORBIT’s communications products, stating that “it is the only known source with the unique capability to supply the stated components for military aircraft, while also meeting the required performance standard”. ORBIT will deliver the first batch of the VAWS during 2011. ORBIT’s VAWS are combined with the audio management system of the Black Hawk, increasing the operational flight safety of the helicopters assigned to combat duty in critical areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The system is part of ORBIT’s Communication Management Systems product line, encompassing a wide variety of building blocks that provide commercially-off-the-shelf solutions for airborne (fixed wing and rotary) and seaborne applications.