PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC
Sikorsky ditches Northrop Grumman after cockpit rebid
Rockwell Collins is expected to secure a lucrative deal with Sikorsky to supply digital cockpit displays for the US Army's planned UH-60M upgrade of 1,217 Black Hawk utility helicopters. The decision represents a major setback for Northrop Grumman, which had been the supplier until Sikorsky opened up the contract to new tenders (Flight International, 21-27 May).
Sikorsky has notified the losing bidders but has yet to finalise a contract - estimated to be worth $200 million - with Rockwell Collins, say industry sources. The requirement could run to nearly 5,000 colour multifunction displays (MFDs) if the army modernises the planned number of helicopters. Rockwell Collins was unavailable for comment.
Northrop Grumman, formerly Litton, had been set to supply MFDs for the UH-60M, having provided displays for the UH-60Q and HH-60L, as well as the US Navy's MH-60R/S. Earlier this year, with the army's support, Sikorsky decided to rebid the cockpit displays due to cost and performance issues. The third competitor was EFW, with Honeywell deciding not to bid.
The winning display suite is based on Rockwell's Common Avionics Architecture System, already selected by the US ArmySpecial Operations Command for its planned modernised fleet of MH-60Ms, Boeing CH-47Gs and McDonnell Douglas MH-6s. A similar configuration of four 150 x 200mm (6 x 8in) landscape displays has been chosen by Turkey for its new S-70A/B helicopters.
The US Army was looking for an off-the-shelf solution, incorporating independent processors and image generators for each display. For improved out-of-the-cockpit pilot visibility, the army wanted smaller displays than the USN's 200 x 250mm MFDs on the MH-60R/S. The first two UH-60M test helicopters will probably retain the Northrop Grumman displays to maintain the first flight schedule of July and August 2003. The Rock-well displays will be fitted on the final two test machines, due to fly in early 2004.
EFW parent Elbit Systems has been selected to provide the glass cockpit for Turkish armed forces upgraded S-70A Black Hawks. Elbit will act as avionics systems integration "prime subcontractor" to Turkish Aerospace Industries. The contract is valued at $14 million.Source: Flight International
