Department of National Defence awards in-service support contract

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va—Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the Department of National Defence (DND) 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-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 and 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 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.