25 July 1997
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html

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[Congressional Record: July 23, 1997 (Extensions)]
[Page E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr23jy97-42]


   MAST MOUNTED SIGHT (MMS) AND THERMAL IMAGING SENSOR SYSTEM (TISS)

                                 ______


                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 1997

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the over 200
McDonnell Douglas employees in Monrovia, CA, who are engaged in
producing night vision/targeting systems for use by the U.S. Army and
Navy. For nearly 10 years, the Army's Mast Mounted Sight [MMS] has been
assembled at this facility.
  During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, many Americans saw pictures and
video images of Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters with a large dome
over the rotor blades. This dome, or MMS, was developed to increase
survivability through its capacity to identify and target potential
threats in both day and night, and during adverse weather. Through its
multisensor electro-optical sighting system, our pilots were able to
see through fog, and storms and thick smoke from burning oil fields,
thus allowing our soldiers to own the night.
  The U.S. Navy also made wide use of the MMS to protect our warships
passing through narrow shipping lanes. More than 200 Mast Mounted
Sights were deployed during the Gulf War to spot and destroy floating
mines, detect and track antiship missiles, and to destroy enemy missile
sites. Even under adverse conditions of war in a desert environment,
the MMS maintained a 96 percent mission capable rate.
  Using lessons learned from producing the MMS, the team at Monrovia is
transitioning their facility to the next generation system known as
Thermal Imaging Sensor System [TISS]. TISS is primarily designed for
shipboard application and uses a combination of infrared sensor, TV
camera and eyesafe laser range finder to detect, recognize and track
mines, ships, small boats, low flying aircraft, cruise missiles and
swimmers. TISS is fully operational at night and during bad weather,
and is effective in close-in operations where radar may be ineffective.
It is also useful for navigating and for search and seizure operations.
  TISS can easily be adapted to helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and
security installations. TISS is now in production and delivery of
initial units to the fleet is scheduled for September 1997. The U.S.
Navy plans to procure between 120 to 150 systems over the next 6 years.
  Over the past few years, my staff and I have visited the outstanding
production facility in Monrovia and found both the workers and
production line to be of the highest quality. Each and every McDonnell
Douglas employee at Monrovia, along with their supplier team, should be
extremely proud of their efforts in providing our military forces the
finest and most reliable equipment available for carrying out their
difficult mission of defending the resources and interests of the
United States of America.

                          ____________________

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