Thales Avionics has signed a collaboration agreement with AgustaWestland to address the requirements of the UK MoD's Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter (BLUH) and Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) programmes.
Known jointly as Future Lynx, the programme will give Thales responsibility for design development, supply and integration of a range of communications, navigation and flight management electronics, including secure communications control, navigation and homing systems, antennas and avionics management systems.
Thales Avionics is already developing the Saturn communications and CTS (Central Tactical System) avionics upgrade for the Lynx HMA Mk8, under the company's largest single prime contract to date.
The Thales AMS2000 control display navigation unit and the RA800M secure communication control system, selected during the Lynx Light Utility Helicopter (LLUH) programme, will form part of the core avionics.
Paul Kahn, managing director of Thales Avionics, says: "The partnership has developed from a long and successful working relationship between Thales and Westland Helicopters on Lynx, Sea King and EH101.
Partnership on programmes is key to Thales consolidating industrial strengths, supporting jobs and technologies in order to deliver the capability needed by our customers."
Source: Flight Daily News
