UK Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat helicopter Goodrich has been awarded a contract by Thales to deliver SiIMU02 inertial measurement units (IMU), which will serve as the standard inertial sensor on its new lightweight multi-role missile (LMM).

The contract was awarded after successful SiIMU02 trials that validated rugged reliability along with consistent exceptional performance, under which Goodrich will supply more than 1,000 units of the inertial sensors to Thales.

Available in an extremely small, lightweight and flexible package, representing one-tenth the size of legacy IMUs, the SiIMU02 unit provides highly accurate motion sensing capability to the user.

Alan Hull, Goodrich’s Sensors and Integrated Systems business director of business development, said that the Thales LMM order was the result of SiIMU02’s unique design, which delivers high performance in extreme environments.

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"The SiIMU02 was originally selected for LMM trials as a result of its growing reputation and track record in theatre, and we look forward to supporting Thales as they introduce this important new missile to the UK armed forces," Hull said.

"The SiIMU02 was originally selected for LMM trials as a result of its growing reputation and track record in theatre, and we look forward to supporting Thales as they introduce this important new missile to the UK armed forces."

Intended to provide guidance across a wide range of missiles and rockets, the IMU uses latest micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, enabling users to create smaller, smarter weapons with enhanced delivery accuracy.

A low-cost, lightweight laser beam-riding missile, LMM has been designed to support a wide range of operational roles and can be launched from a variety of naval, land and air platforms.

Work on the contract will be performed by Goodrich’s Sensors and Integrated Systems team in Plymouth, UK, with deliveries scheduled to start in late 2013.

The UK Royal Navy’s AW159 Wildcat helicopter is expected to be the first platform to be equipped with LMM to provide rapid reaction to counter a wide range of the threats.

To date, Goodrich has delivered a total over 25,000 MEMS-based inertial sensors, including the SiIMU02 to customers across the globe.


Image: The UK Navy’s AW159 Wildcat helicopter had recently completed extensive sea trials aboard HMS Iron Duke. Photo: courtesy of the Royal Navy.