Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, has received a $19 million contract from the Department of Defense to equip a fleet of new H-47 Chinooks for the U.K. Royal Air Force with its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) avionics management suite. This cockpit upgrade will make U.K. Chinooks interoperable with the U.S. Chinooks, using the same avionics system, advance digital cockpit displays and applications.
“Interoperability with our allies will be crucial in the future fight, particularly when it comes to maintaining air dominance,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager of Military Avionics and Helicopters at Collins Aerospace. “Having the same battle-proven, modernized flight deck technology on both U.K. and U.S. aircraft will enable our forces to collaborate more seamlessly, lower their workload and increase operational effectiveness and safety in challenging environments.”
CAAS’s Flight2 Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture design integrates multiple communications, navigation and mission sensor subsystems through its flexible hardware and software. Its open systems architecture enables cost-effective system upgrades and enhancements, reducing total sustainment costs over a platform’s life cycle.
As part of this contract Collins Aerospace will also be responsible for completing data analysis and testing whilst working with the U.K. Ministry of Defence to help it meet the U.K. Military Airworthiness Authority’s requirements.
Earlier this year, the U.K. government announced that the U.K.’s heavy lift capability would be enhanced with the purchase of 14 extended-range Chinooks, contributing an estimated £151 million into the U.K. economy.
Work on this contract will be conducted in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Huntsville, Alabama.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Collins Aerospace.
