PARIS AIR SHOW, Le BOURGET, France, June 16, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Marine Corps' AH-1Z/UH-1Y common avionics development program successfully met another major milestone ahead of schedule on May 14, when Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division, formerly Litton Integrated Systems, delivered its Software Build 2.0 to the Bell Helicopter System Integration Laboratory (SIL) in Fort Worth, Texas.
The delivered software for the Avionics Mission Management Computer (AMMC) and state-of-the-art glass cockpit provides the functional capability and pilot-vehicle interfaces required to support flight test in both the AH-1Z and the UH-1Y aircraft.
Northrop Grumman also delivered ahead of schedule two new AMMC's to Bell, which were then installed in the SIL and operated successfully with the new software.
"These units are in a flight-worthy configuration and represent another major step in meeting the flight test dates of both aircraft scheduled for later this year," said Bob Johnston, H-1 program director for the Navigation Systems Division.
Under subcontract to Bell Helicopter, Northrop Grumman is the total system integrator and provider of the AH-1Z and UH-1Y common Integrated Avionics Suites (IAS). These suites include two AMMC's, a fully glass cockpit, the communications suite, the aircraft sensors, the weapons control system and the helmet-mounted display and sighting system. The IAS provides significant performance enhancements to both helicopters and low cost of ownership through the highly integrated common design.
Headquartered in Northridge, Calif., the Navigation Systems Division specializes in the design and production of airborne avionics products and systems and is an industry leader in supplying and integrating rugged smart displays and computers for both military and commercial applications. The division also delivers advanced systems engineering, software and hardware for a wide range of military applications, including air and missile defense command and control, battlefield communications, marine control systems, and electronic maintenance and training.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., ES3 is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.
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