Northrop Grumman to supply FlightPro Gen III for H-1 programme
Northrop Grumman will deliver FlightPro Gen III mission computers for H-1 helicopter programme flight tests, system integration laboratories and training. The company has received a $10.6 million low-rate initial production contract for the mission computers from the US Navy.
The H-1 programme is delivering AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters to the US Marine Corps (USMC). The USMC is using FlightPro Gen II mission computers on the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper platforms; according to Northrop Grumman it plans to incorporate Gen III computers in future aircraft.
The lightweight FlightPro mission computer integrates advanced mission, weapons and video processing capabilities into a conduction-cooled airborne computer. FlightPro Gen III features the newest computing technology in multiple partitioned, 8-core PowerPC-based processors, offering increased computing resources; as well as an extended lifetime due to long-term product support from suppliers.
Ike Song, vice president, Situational Awareness Systems, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘Our enhanced FlightPro Gen III mission computer is the most capable general purpose mission computer on the market, offering unmatched performance, affordability and flexibility. The computer's fast, efficient processing will improve situational awareness and lighten warfighters' workloads, in addition to allowing rapid insertion of emerging capabilities.’
The fully qualified mission computer uses commercial off-the-shelf technology, model-based software design and an open systems architecture, for easy configuration to meet different system requirements. The system can be used with rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft as well as unmanned aerial systems.
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