Northrop Grumman to Upgrade Integrated Bridge Systems for Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers

Northrop Grumman to Upgrade Integrated Bridge Systems for Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers
June 7, 2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract to provide Scalable Integrated Bridge Systems (SIBS) for five Nimitz-class (CVN) U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers.

The five SIBS shipsets were awarded to Northrop Grumman's Maritime Systems business unit under a U.S. Navy fixed-price contract. In conjunction with previously awarded shipsets by the U.S. Navy, this contract will complete bridge upgrades for the entire Nimitz class. The upgrades will provide enhanced situational awareness for safer navigation as well as increased commonality with systems and software used by other U.S. Navy ship classes for easier supportability.

The CVN SIBS includes Northrop Grumman's Voyage Management System (VMS), which provides the "paperless navigation" technology to convert the Fleet from hand plotting on paper nautical charts to automated navigation and piloting on computerized chart displays. VMS is the only system that is currently certified by the U.S. Navy to be compliant with the Navy's Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS‑N) requirements for paperless navigation, as defined by the Chief of Naval Operations in OPNAVINST 9420.2. All U.S. Navy vessels certified for paperless navigation use VMS as their ECDIS‑N software application, running on an ECDIS‑N certified Northrop Grumman equipment suite.

"The scalable bridge upgrades will give the CVNs the same navigation technology and hardware that is being standardized across the rest of the U.S. Navy Fleet," said Jeffrey L. Holloway, director of business development for Northrop Grumman Maritime Systems. "The upgrade will provide improved situational awareness and enhanced navigation safety, allowing the carriers to be certified for paperless navigation."

The Nimitz-class carriers began construction in 1968 with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The tenth ship of the class, the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) was commissioned in January 2009. The U.S. Navy's "Fact File" describes the Nimitz class as "the centerpiece of America's Naval forces. On any given day, aircraft carriers exercise the Navy core capabilities of power projection, forward presence, humanitarian assistance, deterrence, sea control and maritime security."

Northrop Grumman Maritime Systems, headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., and with major engineering and support offices in New Malden, United Kingdom and Hamburg, Germany, provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

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