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Stolen Apache Helicopter Targeting System Prompts Investigation

POSTED: Sunday, June 3, 2007
UPDATED: 10:51 pm EDT June 3, 2007

Two thieves cut a hole in a door at a Lockheed Martin facility near Orlando International Airport and stole a targeting computer used for Apache helicopters, Local 6 News confirmed Sunday.

The Apache helicopter targeting system -- called TEDAC -- was recovered from bushes near the Lockheed Martin facility shortly after the Wednesday theft, police said.

"Obviously, Lockheed Martin puts a high priority on security, and this will be thoroughly investigated," Don McClain, Lockheed Martin's director of communications, said Saturday. "It appears that that was the only thing removed, and it was recovered."

Police said surveillance tapes show two men stealing televisions from another nearby business on the same night. It is unclear why the Apache system, which has a 5-by-5-inch screen and controllers to aim and fire helicopter weapons, was dumped.

"I would think if they were serious about it, they would have taken it or gotten away with it," Orlando police Lt. Shirley Coleman said.

Lockheed has a contract to refit the U.S. Army's Apache fleet with the upgraded system.

The system could have been valuable to foreign governments wanting a peek at military technology, said John Pike a military defense policy analyst and director of globalsecurity.org.

"They stole the wrong TV," Pike said. "They could have gotten a heck of a lot more for the one they dumped ... Generally, when you have something that valuable, you would have them better locked up, you would think."

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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