Northrop Grumman wins US Navy H-1 helicopter contract
Northrop Grumman will provide Gen II mission computers for the US Navy’s H-1 Upgrade helicopter programme under a new contract announced on 29 January. The company was awarded a $9.3 million firm-fixed-price order by the US Naval Air Systems Command to perform the work.
The order will see Northrop Grumman supply Gen II mission computers and trays for the H-1 Upgrade programme's Lot 10 production aircraft. Dual mission computers are the heart of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Avionics System (IAS) that powers H-1 helicopters' glass cockpits. The mission computers provide centralised control of the IAS, interface with the tactical moving map, and display both situational awareness and health monitoring information. Additionally, the IAS and mission computers feature an open, modular architecture that allows for system upgrades and insertion of new technologies.
According to the company, the mission computers will be used onboard UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters that make up the marine light attack helicopter squadrons. Critical mission data is shown on four displays, reducing workload and increasing aircrew situational awareness.
The H-1 Upgrade programme involves replacing aging AH-1W and UH-1N helicopters with upgraded UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft, providing improvements in commonality, reliability and maintainability.
Deliveries are expected to be completed by January 2015.
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