: The Marines want to upgrade the night vision combat systems on the AH-1W Cobra, and the Navy (which manages that program) has selected two contractors with experience in the field: Kollsman (of New Hampshire, US) and Taman (from Israel). Both will provide a prototype third-generation staring focal plane array system for tests. The Marines are starting to upgrade KC-130R tankers with night vision cockpits, with three to be refitted this year and 11 more in 2005. An investigation showed that the fatal crash of a KC-130R in Pakistan was caused by "pilot disorientation".--Stephen V Cole