The US Navy has awarded a follow-on performance-based logistics (PBL) contract to Northrop Grumman to provide support for the AN/ASN-139 Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System (CAINS II).
Under the five-year, firm-fixed-price modification contract, the company will provide logistics, material and technical support for the AN/ASN-139 CAINS II that is already deployed on various US navy and foreign aircraft.
Material and configuration-management services for the system, which is currently installed on the C-2A Greyhound, E-2C Hawkeye, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Lockheed Martin-built S-3 Viking and AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, will also be provided by the company.
Northrop Grumman navigation and positioning systems business unit vice-president Gorik Hossepian said that the recent agreement followed a five-year PBL contract for AN/ASN-139 system.
"Our wide scope of support, including total inventory control for CAINS II, will help ensure that the product continues to meet the availability requirements and high quality standards of the navy," Hossepian said.
Known as the LN-92, the AN/ASN-139 is a ring laser gyro strapdown inertial navigation system designed to provide improved navigation performance over the existing 1nm/hr capability.
In addition, the CAINS II provides low lifecycle and acquisition costs, low-maintenance and calibration needs, as well as high reliability for carrier-based aircraft.
Northrop will support the governments of Japan, Egypt, France, Malaysia, and Taiwan under the foreign military sales (FMS), as part of the $13.17m contract.
Scheduled to be complete by 25 January 2018, work will be carried out in Woodland Hills, California; and Salt Lake City, Utah, US.
The US Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) will serve as the contracting activity.
Image: US Navy’s C-2A Greyhound aircraft prepares to launch from an aircraft carrier. Photo: courtesy of US Navy mass communication specialist 2nd class John Shepherd/Released.