MONTREAL, Quebec, 20 July 2009. BAE Systems awarded Esterline CMC Electronics a contract to supply its TacView portable mission display for U.S. Navy C-130T aircraft.

The Navy intends to employ two TacView systems per cockpit installation to facilitate paperless cockpit functionality, including aircraft data, procedure manuals and interactive electronic charts for improved situational awareness and streamlined cockpit operations. The Navy currently operates 19 C-130T tanker aircraft.

The design of the TacView Portable Mission Display is based on CMC's PilotView electronic flight bag.

"Our compact TacView is specifically designed to facilitate military and paramilitary airborne mission effectiveness through improved real-time situational awareness," says Jean-Michel Comtois, vice-president of military aviation at CMC Electronics.

TacView consists of a rugged, compact, self-contained, night-vision imaging system-compatible smart display and companion power supply/interface module. TacView provides functionality enhancements for military transports, fighters, and helicopters, without impacting or having to modify the aircraft's existing operational flight program.

Some of the functions that can be hosted by TacView include tactical data-link display for network-centric communications, portable mission planning, digital moving map, real-time weather imagery, electronic aeronautical charts and sensor imaging. The TacView also provides a path to paperless cockpit operations on board military aircraft.

TacView is large enough to display full-size instrument approach charts, checklists and moving maps, but small enough to mount in virtually any cockpit, CMC officials say. Cockpit side mount, yoke mount, and knee mount options provide the level of flexibility required for a wide range of aircraft. Its super bright, sunlight-readable 5 inch by 7 inch display features an integrated sliding keyboard, film-on-glass touch sensitive screen, and bezel keys.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics recently selected the TacView smart display to meet current and future C-130J Mobile Display System (MDS) requirements.