CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman is to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with navigation support for two polar ice breakers under a five-year. $5 million support contract.
Covered under the contract is the supply of hardware configuration management, remote technical support and training classes. Northrop will also participate in the maintenance "grooms" performed on the two ice breakers prior to each polar deployment.
The "grooms" include tuning integrated bridge system equipment, upgrading autopilots, adjusting tolerances, improving software and replacing parts as needed for maximum system performance.
"For 14 years, Northrop Grumman has provided quality long-term navigation systems and support for the Coast Guard's polar ice breakers," said Bill Hannon, vice president of the company's Maritime Systems business unit. "This new support contract, which covers direct installs, field testing and personnel training, will allow us to keep ahead of the navigation and training needs for these critical vessels."
The ice breakers clear pathways for supply ships and support research missions. Northrop Grumman has supported the Coast Guard's polar ice breakers since 1999.
Northrop said work on the first vessel, the Polar Star, begins this month.
