Northrop Grumman to provide laser components to repair Navy Multispectral Targeting Systems
CRANE, Ind., 1 March 2016. U.S. Navy airborne sensors experts are looking to Northrop Grumman Corp. to provide laser components for the repair of an electro-optical multispectral sensor and laser-designation system for a variety of aircraft.
Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Crane, Ind., announced a plan to negotiate an order with the Northrop Grumman Mission Systems segment in Apopka, Fla., to provide the electro-optical components.
Northrop Grumman will provide single-color diode pumped laser designators, dual-beam emitters and receivers, and tri-beam emitters and receivers to repair airborne Multispectral Targeting Systems (MTS).
The MTS, integrated by the Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems segment in McKinney, Texas, is an airborne forward-looking infrared, turreted sensor package that provides long-range surveillance, high altitude target acquisition, tracking, range-finding, and laser designation for all tri-service and NATO laser-guided munitions.
Raytheon is providing MTS systems for the Navy Sikorsky MH-60 helicopter and for the U.S. Air Force HC/MC-130J four-engine turboprop aircraft. Versions of the MTS also are aboard the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Related: Air Force to buy Raytheon multispectral UAV sensor payloads for Reaper hunter-killer drone
NSWC-Crane experts say they expect to award a five-year contract to Northrop Grumman worth as much as $44.9 million for the single-color diode pumped laser designators, dual-beam emitters and receivers, and tri-beam emitters and receivers as spare and replacement items for failure analysis and repair of failed MTS units.
Northrop Grumman is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of these MTS electro-optical components. Navy experts say they intend to award a contract to Northrop Grumman sole-source because finding alternative suppliers would be too expensive and time-consuming.
Companies with similar technologies may submit capability statements, proposals, or quotations. Email the Navy's Jeannie Cummins at [email protected] for information on submitting information.
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N00164/N0016416RJQ08/listing.html.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
