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World
Aviation Industry News - Northrop Grumman |
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United States AH-1Z / UH-1Y helicopters are upgraded with Northrop Grumman
H-1 avionics program. |
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Northrop
Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Avionics System played a key
role in preparing the AH-1Z helicopter for its first operational deployment,
marking the initial opportunity for the AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters to
work together as a team. |
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The UH-1Y helicopter is deployed as a team aboard the USS Makin Island with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Avionics System played a key role in preparing the AH-1Z helicopter for its first operational deployment. |
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The AH-1Z and its
sister aircraft, the UH-1Y, are deployed aboard the USS Makin Island
with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The helicopters function
as a detachment of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367),
which provided four AH-1Z and three UH-1Y helicopters. While this is
the first AH-1Z deployment, the UH-1Y was first deployed in 2009 with
the 13th MEU and has experienced four HMLA squadron deployments in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. |
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Northrop Grumman's Integrated Avionics System contributes to the high commonality of parts between the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters in the H-1 upgrade program, facilitating their dual deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Image Copyright Northrop Grumman) |
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"The Integrated Avionics System is dramatically
improving the situational awareness abilities of these H-1 aircraft in
challenging environments," said Ike Song, vice president of situational
awareness systems at Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division. "These
operational advantages will be even more apparent now, as the AH-1Z and
UH-1Y work together as a team in their first joint deployment."
The IAS powers the helicopters' glass cockpits. It features two mission computers with an open, modular architecture that allows for easy system upgrades and rapid insertion of new technologies. The IAS also improves the air crew's situational awareness and weapons accuracy by providing critical mission data on four displays. The H-1 upgrade program is leading the U.S. Marine Corps into the digital interoperability age. The program involves replacing aging AH-1W and UH-1N fleets with newer AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters that provide significant improvements in commonality, reliability and maintainability. Both the AH-1Z and UH-1Y are in full-rate production by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. |
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United States AH-1Z / UH-1Y helicopters are upgraded with Northrop Grumman H-1 avionics program 1811113
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