Curtiss-Wright to supply computers for UH-60V program

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division has received a contract from Northrop Grumman to supply its commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based ruggedized single board computer (SBC), network switch, and graphics display module technology to provide a digitized cockpit solution for use in the U.S. Army’s Sikorsky UH-60V program. The upgrade replaces the UH-60L cockpit with a scalable, fully integrated mission equipment package. Under the agreement, Curtiss-Wright will provide Northrop Grumman with its DMV-186 SBC, SMS-652 network switch and XMC-715 graphics and video display products, upgrading the avionics in the UH-60L aircraft’s cockpit with digital electronic instrument displays. The new system virtually replicates the UH-60M pilot-vehicle interface, enabling a common training environment. Shipments are scheduled to begin in 2014.

“We are very proud to have been selected by Northrop Grumman to provide our ruggedized processing, network switching and graphics technology to support the cockpit digitization upgrade for the UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter,” said Lynn Bamford, senior vice president and general manager, Defense Solutions division. “Our SWaP-C optimized technology helps improve performance and reliability while reducing the aircraft’s total life cycle cost. This success builds on our prior selection as a supplier of high performance rugged modules in support of Northrop Grumman’s FlightPro Gen II mission computer solution used on the U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y and AH-1Z Helicopters.”

About the DMV-186 SBC, SMS-652 Switch and XMC-715 Graphics Modules
Curtiss-Wright’s DMV-186 is a rugged COTS VME SBC based on Freescale’s high-performance Power Architecture QorIQ P4080 SOC multi-core processor. The Company’s SMS-652 rugged network switch module provides gigabit Ethernet switching functionality to connect various systems over the helicopter’s high-speed Ethernet network. The XMC-715 Graphics Controller mezzanine card supports dual independent graphics outputs in a low power, high performance package with a high level of reliability and is the industry’s first COTS graphics card with a 15 year-minimum lifecycle.

The UH-60V’s next generation avionics system is aligned with the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) standard and supports integration of off-the-shelf software and hardware, enabling rapid insertion of capabilities while reducing cost and risk for system integration and upgrades. Supported with a Safety Certifiable operating system and graphics driver, the DMV-186 and XMC-715 combination provides a hardware solution to host Candidate Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) software applications and operating systems to develop, integrate and test future portable FACE avionics software components.

The Defense Solutions division will manufacture the products covered by this agreement at its facility in Ottawa, Canada. The products will be shipped to Northrop Grumman in Woodland Hills, Calif., and Salt Lake City, Utah.