Northrop Grumman wins Navy helo contract

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WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Feb. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. defense company Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract to upgrade software in its new CH-53K Super Stallion helicopter.

The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md., awarded Northrop Grumman the $5.6 million contract, the company said Tuesday.

The contract provides for modifying existing software for the LN-251 embedded GPS/fiber-optic inertial navigation system intended for CH-53K helicopters.

"The LN-251 is renowned for its compact size, light weight and high reliability," Northrop Navigation Systems Division Vice President of navigation and positioning systems Gorik Hossepian said. "This high-performance navigation system will further enhance the CH-53K helicopter's robust capabilities."

The Navigation Systems Division will provide updated software and engineering support for platform integration and flight tests to both NAVAIR and Sikorsky Aircraft, the company building the CH-53K helicopter, which is scheduled for deployment by both the Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.