GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 1 Nov. 2005. Northrop Grumman has selected Smiths Aerospace to provide the flight management and integrated standby instrument systems for the E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning plane.

The System Design & Development (SDD) contract is valued at more than $4 million, with a program potential of at least $30 million. Deliveries of the systems will continue through 2006, with production starting in mid-2009.

The E-2 Hawkeye is the U.S. Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical airborne warning and control system platform. It provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. The E-2D ground test is scheduled for late 2007 and the flight test for 2009. Navy leaders have ordered 54 planes, with more potential orders coming from international buyers.

This is the first E-2 to have a flight management system (FMS) capability, which reduces crew workload, improves mission effectiveness, and includes modular interoperability with proven civil and military FMS functionality that results in life cycle savings.

The FMS enables compliance with the global air space requirements allowing the E-2D to operate in national/international airspace. The integrated standby instrument system will enable the pilot or co-pilot to fly the aircraft to safety in case of an incident with the primary flight displays. This system provides a proven commercial-off-the-shelf solution, which offers higher reliability as well as lower weight. These systems are being supplied as part of the E-2D integrated navigation, controls and displays system.

Smiths Aerospace supplies the following products for the E-2D:
* flight management system
* data acquisition transfer, digital data set
* integrated standby instrument system
* cockpit control panels, and
* shut-off / isolation valves.

In addition to the E-2, Smiths flight management system is on the new P-8A MMA (Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft), E-6, C-130 Avionics Modernization Program, the 767 Tanker Transport and the UK Nimrod MRA4.

Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace equipment and systems company, with more than 10,000 employees and $2 billion sales globally. Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. For more information, see www.smiths-aerospace.com.