WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Nov. 5, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division has announced the appointment of the VARIG Engineering and Maintenance (VEM) facility in Porto Algre, Brazil, as the South American service center for Northrop Grumman's LTN-92 inertial navigation systems.
Northrop Grumman has certified VEM to perform LTN-92 repairs, providing decreased turnaround time for South American customers. The LTN-92 enables replacement of earlier "spinning-wheel" inertial systems with ring-laser gyro-based systems offering enhanced reliability, improved accuracy and minimal wiring change requirements.
"This agreement will expand customer maintenance options for both military and commercial LTN-92 customers in Brazil and other parts of South America. By authorizing VEM to perform in and out of warranty LTN-92 repairs with Northrop Grumman-supplied components, the customer can get factory warranted work for the LTN-92 at either our Woodland Hills facility or the VEM facility," said Tim Cummings, South American marketing manager for the Northrop Grumman division. "The LTN-92 agreement builds on a long relationship between the two companies dating back to 1974 when VARIG, prior to the formation of VEM, began servicing the LTN-72 inertial navigation system."
The LTN-92 is an ARINC 561 strapdown inertial navigation system with full ARINC 704 digital interface capability. ARINC publishes the international avionics standards for form, fit and function established by the Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee, an international standards organization.
The LTN-92 reduces the cost of incorporating GPS, supports incremental installations, and can be tailored to meet customer needs. An optional onboard worldwide navigation database, global navigation sensor systems interface capability and a 1553B data bus can be added to the LTN-92. Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 2,500 LTN-92s to military and commercial customers worldwide.
VEM, the largest maintenance, repair and overhaul company in Latin America, operates maintenance centers in Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, which handle installations, modifications, repair and design. It has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, Joint Aviation Authority, and other international agencies for heavy maintenance repair and overhaul for Boeing 727, 737, 747-200/300, 767-200/300, 777-200, DC-10 and MD-11 aircraft, and more than 6,700 avionics and components. VEM also provides maintenance for corporate and military aircraft.
Based in Woodland Hills, Calif., the Navigation Systems Division provides situational awareness for the defense and commercial markets. It offers integrated avionics, inertial navigation and guidance systems, satellite electronics, friend-or-foe systems, cockpit displays, fiber-optic sensors and systems, and logistic support products and services.
The Navigation Systems Division is part of the company's Baltimore, Md.-based Electronic Systems sector, a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense and commercial electronics and systems including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space systems, marine and naval systems, government systems and logistics services.
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