Northrop Grumman has agreed to buy Oslo-based Navia Aviation, an instrument landing systems, digital voice switching systems and air traffic control systems supplier, for $35 million from Norway's Navia. The business will report to UK-based Park Air Electronics, a unit of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems division. Cordant Technologies plans to buy all remaining shares in aircraft engine components manufacturer Howmet International, in which it already has an 84.6% stake. The outstanding stake is valued at $261 million. Gyrodyne is to sell its defunct aerospace division to California-based Aviodyne, which will continue to support an agreement with Germany's Dornier to develop the SEAMOS unmanned air vehicle, based on Gyrodyne's QH-50 remotely piloted helicopter. New York-based aircraft weapons carriage systems specialist EDO has acquired M Technologies. The two US companies are working together on a $47 million contract to produce smart-bomb racks for US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16s. Denver, Colorado-based air medical transportation specialist Air Methods has retained an advisor to assist in developing an acquisition strategy to expand its aerospace products business. Computer Sciences and Nichols Research have completed their merger after shareholders and the US Federal Trade Commission blessed the move. The combined company, to be known as CSC, will handle major engineering and information technology contracts for US Government agencies, mostly located in Huntsville, Alabama (including NASA and the US Army Aviation and Missile Command), and in Washington, DC. North Carolina-based regional Midway Airlines has formed a special committee to evaluate a merger proposal made by two major shareholders who together control 47% of its stock. No further details of the plan have been disclosed.
Source: Flight International
