Northrop Grumman secures military aircraft modernization contract with Navy

The U.S. Navy recently awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $65 million contract to execute Link-16 full rate production for Marine Corps H-1 AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft to modernize electronic systems fleetwide.

Link-16 is a secure data link enabling H-1 crews to share data and communications with other aircraft and users on military networks.

“As lead technology integrator for H-1 Avionics, we are expanding our long-standing partnership with the Marine Corps to modernize electronic systems across the fleet through an open systems architecture approach,” said Lindsay McEwen, vice president, navigation, targeting, and survivability at Northrop Grumman. “Link-16 full rate production is the starting point.”

The scope of work involved integrating data link hardware across the fleet. The capability serves as a mission enabler as the Department of Defense transitions to Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

There have been over 450,000 H-1 mission systems solutions total flight hours. The processes, capabilities, and architecture developed for the H-1 fleet apply to other platforms and possess the ability to be utilized in future aircraft development programs such as NAVAIR Vertical Take Off and Landing Family of Systems.

Per Northrop Grumman, the company equips customers with the capabilities needed to connect, advance, and protect America and its allies.