Northrop Grumman Equips UK Navy’s Astute Boat 5 Sub with PMS Hardware

Northrop Grumman Corporation has supplied the final batch of Platform Management System (PMS) hardware for the Royal Navy’s Astute-class series’ boat 5 submarine.

Under a performance partnering arrangement, Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit supplied the PMS to BAE Systems Maritime–Submarines for installation on Astute Boat 5, Anson, at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, U.K. The PMS equipment controls and monitors the submarine’s platform machinery and onboard systems.

 “Northrop Grumman has a well established relationship with the Royal Navy, supplying and supporting systems for surface ships and submarines,” said Andrew Tyler, chief executive U.K. and Europe, Northrop Grumman. “The continued success of our involvement in the Astute programme is a reflection of the skill of our teams and the close partnership that we have with BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence.”

Additionally, Northrop Grumman is currently under contract to supply PMS hardware and software for Astute Boat 4 (Audacious) and the forthcoming Astute boats 6 and 7, which will be the Royal Navy’s newest nuclear-powered submarines.

 “Our extensive track record of delivering reliable, high-performance navigation and ship control solutions has helped to establish us as a preferred supplier for Royal Navy platforms,” said Alan Dix, managing director of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. “We are particularly pleased that we have achieved 100 percent on-time delivery status during the two-year process for Astute Boat 5.”

Based on Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine’s innovative approach to configuring commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software to meet exacting military and commercial applications, the PMS is expected to reduce life cycle costs and minimize program risk for the U.K. Ministry of Defence. The system will provide an advanced network design that includes the stringent levels of safety and redundancy associated with nuclear submarine control systems.

Also, the Platform Management System is expandable and versatile due to an open architecture design that allows interfacing with third-party equipment via standard field-bus technology.

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine in New Malden, U.K. has a long and successful relationship with the Royal Navy, supplying and supporting machinery control systems, navigation radars, gyrocompasses and other navigation equipment for additional submarines and surface ships, including the Type 45 destroyer.

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Press Release, September 11, 2013; Image: Navy