Northrop Grumman has been selected by Canada’s Department of National Defence to provide in-service support for the MK-49 inertial navigation systems and navigation data distribution systems fielded aboard surface ships and submarines of the Royal Canadian Navy.
The $12.1 million contract, awarded by Public Works Government Services Canada, includes material spares and software maintenance for the next five years. This is the fourth in-service support contract that Northrop Grumman has received from the DND since 2001. The company previously designed and delivered the MK-39 inertial navigation system, the SRD 331 Speed Log and related software to Canada.
The in-service support work will be for systems installed on 12 Halifax-class frigates, three Iroquois-class destroyers, four Victoria-class submarines and two Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships, in addition to three land-based systems.
“This contract continues our 11-year record of reliable in-service support for the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Bill Hannon, vice president of Maritime Systems at Northrop Grumman. “By continually expanding the scope with each contract, we have helped reduce the DND’s need to maintain spares and support services.”
The MK-49 inertial navigation system, based on Northrop Grumman’s unique ring-laser gyro technology, provides highly accurate position, attitude, velocity and heading inputs to the ships’ navigation and fire-control systems to help ensure stabilized weapons initialization under all sea conditions. The navigation data distribution system integrates data inputs and outputs provided by the MK-49 INS and other navigation sensors.
Northrop Grumman is a world leader in ring-laser gyro technology, having supplied more than 80 percent of the systems at sea today. Northrop Grumman supplies the standard ring-laser gyro equipment used on NATO ships.
