Northrop Grumman Corporation has received the Customer Focus Award from BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines in recognition of the role the company has played in supplying the platform management system (PMS) for the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Astute nuclear-powered submarine programme.
The award was presented during BAE’s 2014 Annual Supplier Forum to Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit in recognition of its performance in the integrated deployment and management of the programme’s resources and for continuously improving performance standards in delivery and support.
"Our extensive track record of delivering reliable, high-performance navigation and ship control solutions has helped to establish us as a preferred supplier for Royal Navy platforms," said Alan Dix, managing director, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. "This award is a great achievement and we are proud to be contributing to the most capable submarine ever built for the Royal Navy."
Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine is supplying the PMS to BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines for installation on the Royal Navy’s Astute Boat 4 and under an innovative performance partnering arrangement for boats 5, 6 and 7 at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, UK.
The PMS includes control and monitoring software, human interface equipment and programmable logic controller-based hardware located throughout the submarine. All hardware has been system-engineered to meet naval standards for shock, vibration, temperature and electromagnetic compatibility requirements and meets the stringent safety requirements for this type of vessel.
Based on Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine’s innovative approach to configuring commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software to meet exacting military and commercial applications, the PMS is expected to reduce lifecycle costs and minimize programme risk for the MoD.
The system provides an advanced network design that includes the stringent levels of safety and redundancy associated with nuclear submarine control systems. The open architecture design of the PMS is also expandable and versatile allowing it to interface with third-party equipment via standard field-bus technology.
Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine in the UK has had a long and successful relationship with the Royal Navy, supplying and supporting machinery control systems, navigation radars, gyrocompasses and other navigation equipment. The company has also provided the PMS for the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers and the Hunt Class Minehunters, and is supplying the integrated navigation and bridge System for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. The company has provided ships’ inertial navigation systems for a variety of the Royal Navy’s other surface ships and submarines.