Lithuanian Navy to Receive Northrop Automation Systems

The Lithuanian Navy is to receive machinery automation systems from Northrop Grumman for two mine countermeasures vessels being sold by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Under the contract, Northrop's Sperry Marine will equip each of the ships with a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) machinery automation system, which will provide an integrated and flexible network for monitoring and controlling the ships' propulsion engines and auxiliary systems.

Sperry Marine will also provide supervision of installation, commissioning, testing and training for the ships' crews.

Northrop Grumman Naval and Marine Systems International Naval Systems vice-president J Nolasco DaCunha said the open-architecture COTS system would provide a rugged and robust network for machinery automation.

The contract has been awarded by Thales UK, the prime contractor for the refit and upgrade of the two ships for the Lithuanian Navy.

The two Hunt Class ships, formerly HMS Cottesmore and HMS Dulverton, present a very low magnetic signature for mine countermeasure operations.