WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., March 27, 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to provide refreshed technology and upgraded software for the legacy navigation system on the RC-135 family of aircraft that will introduce modern hardware and software and add an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS).
The LN-120G retrofit configuration will extend the life of the Northrop Grumman LN-20 Stellar Navigation System that has been in service for three decades.
"The upgraded systems will improve performance and reliability for the RC-135, while providing an economical path for future system upgrades," said Neil Corey, Northrop Grumman program manager for Stellar-Inertial Navigation Systems. "This program affirms Northrop Grumman's ongoing commitment to meet the operational needs of the Air Force while improving the company's position as the leader in stellar inertial navigation."
Under the development phase of this program, Northrop Grumman will create new software, test equipment and prototype units that will be flight-tested by the Air Force in 2005. The production phase of the contract would retrofit the existing ship sets of LN-20 line replaceable equipment with deliveries of LN-120G units beginning in 2006.
The LN-20 is a GPS augmented inertial navigation system that tracks stars during the day and at night. The current LN-20 unit utilizes mechanical gyroscopes and accelerometers that will be replaced in this upgrade with Zero-lock(tm) gyroscope technology and advanced technology accelerometers.
The RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft provides near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities. Initially employed by the Strategic Air Command to satisfy nationally tasked intelligence collection requirements, the RC-135 fleet has also participated in every sizable armed conflict involving U.S. assets during its tenure.
Based in Woodland Hills, Calif., Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division provides situational awareness for the defense and commercial markets. It offers integrated avionics, inertial navigation and guidance systems, satellite electronics, identification friend or foe systems, smart displays, fiber-optic sensors and systems, and logistic support products and services.