Goodrich wins anti-tank weapon system contract

Goodrich Corporation’s Sensors and Integrated Systems business in Plymouth, UK has received a follow-on order from Saab Bofors Dynamics AB for additional inertial measurement units (IMUs) for its Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) system. The contract covers additional NLAW units intended for export; deliveries are expected to be complete in 2012.

The IMUs are Goodrich model SiIMU01, a rugged MEMS-based IMU that provides missile navigation and guidance. The Plymouth team was first selected in 2001 to design and develop the NLAW’s IMU; deliveries of the SiIMU01 unit commenced in 2005. The most current order brings total SilMU01 requirements for NLAW to 20,000 units, including past, current and future delivery orders.

Charlie Johnston, vice president and general manager for Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems said, “Our ongoing success on the Saab NLAW proves the value of rugged, precise, low-cost MEMS-based devices designed to operate in the harshest environments. We continue to evolve our guidance, navigation and control technology to meet the increasing performance needs of tomorrow’s defense systems.”

NLAW is a lightweight, portable fire-and-forget anti-tank weapon. Its guidance electronics record the soldier’s aiming movement, then calculates and predicts a flight path to the target. NLAW was introduced into service by the British, Finnish and Swedish armed forces to meet the demanding requirements for their anti-tank weapons.

Goodrich inertial measurement products have become the preferred choice of modern precision guidance and navigation, offering the ability to sense and accurately measure rotational and linear movement. The company is a market leader in MEMS-based inertial systems, with more than 25,000 MEMS units in use today on a wide range of military platforms.

Source: Goodrich