Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the U.S. Army celebrated one million flight hours for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) during ceremonies held today at Lockheed Martin’s Orlando, Fla., facility.

Fielded in 2005, M-TADS/PNVS is known as the eyes of the Apache attack helicopter. It provides Apache pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for mission success and flight safety in day, night and adverse weather missions. Forward-looking infrared sensors provide enhanced image resolution that enables Apache aircrews to engage targets and provide situational awareness in support of ground troops outside detection ranges.

“This system has been touted as a ‘game changer’ for our aviators and soldiers on the ground,” said Col. Jeff Hager, U.S. Army Project Manager for Apache Attack Helicopters. “It has provided the Army with unprecedented situational awareness and targeting ability that has helped to save the lives of U.S. soldiers and our allies.”

“This achievement is a testament to the U.S. Army’s and Lockheed Martin’s commitment to keeping M-TADS/PNVS mission ready in support of warfighters’ critical combat and training requirements,” said Dave Belvin, director of Apache Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Years of innovation and engineering enhancements, combined with the dedication of Army aircrews and maintainers, have ensured outstanding M-TADS/PNVS reliability and maintainability performance.”

M-TADS/PNVS, an award-winning Performance Based Logistics program, enhances system performance and reliability by more than 150 percent, reduces maintenance actions by nearly 60 percent, and will save the U.S. Army nearly $1 billion in operation and support costs over its 40-year system life.

Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,200 M-TADS/PNVS systems to the U.S. Army and 12 international customers. Electronics assembly of M-TADS/PNVS is performed at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Ocala, Fla., and final assembly is performed at its Orlando, Fla., facility.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is a 2012 recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence. The Malcolm Baldrige Award represents the highest honor that can be awarded to American companies for achievement in leadership, strategic planning, customer relations, measurement, analysis, workforce excellence, operations and business results.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.  The Corporation’s net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.