Northrop’s Sperry Marine has signed a production contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply the integrated navigation bridge system (INBS) for the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carrier programme.

Under the contract, the company will build and deliver the complete INBS, including navigation planning, electronic charts and radar displays (ECDIS-N (UK)), as well as a set of sensors and software.

The INBS/ECDIS-N is based on VisionMaster FT ship navigation technology to integrate the ship’s navigation sensors and systems into a network of multifunction workstations to meet operational requirements.

The contracts were awarded by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), the industrial alliance which includes BAE Systems Surface Ships, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies, Thales UK, MoD and Babcock.

Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in 2018.

The company has also signed a design phase contract for the navigation lights, shapes and sounds (NLSS) but the terms of the contracts have not been disclosed.

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