BAE Systems recently was awarded a U.S. Army contract to provide 250 touchscreen computer display units (CDU) on Black Hawk helicopters, the army’s primary medium-lift transport aircraft.
The CDUs are an upgrade to BAE’s ASN-128 Doppler GPS Navigation System.
The ASN-128 operates on more than 15,000 helicopters in 35 countries. It enables pilots to view real-time flight plan data and is a self-contained, all-weather, day or night navigation system. It is jam-resistant and operates in situations where GPS interference is likely, automatically selecting Doppler navigation in GPS-denied environments.
The upgrade will minimize heads-down tasks by adding touch-screen navigation system control.
“We’ve been a supplier for the ASN-128 program since 1978,” Alan Dewar, BAE Systems director of Communications and Navigation Solutions, said. “The full touch screen with moving map capability will improve safety for pilots, assisting our customer’s mission success.”
The CDU order is under BAE’s $226 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.
Circuit cards will be manufactured in Austin, Texas, and the CDUs will be made in Wayne, New Jersey.
The CDUs will be delivered in 2019 and 2020. The army has the option of ordering more units, and the ASN-128 will be used through 2035.