Northrop Grumman to deliver navigation systems to Saudi Arabia

American aerospace and defense technology Northrop Grumman has received an $8.3 million foreign military sales contract from the U.S. Navy to provide naval ship-based MK39 MOD 3A Ring Laser gyro inertial navigation systems to Saudi Arabia.

The Defense Department said May 20 that the company would also produce MK39 MOD 3A components, spare parts and associated shore-based tools for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces under the contract.

Northrop will perform work in Charlottesville, Virginia, through December 2018.

MK39 MOD 4A is designed to generate geographic position, precise attitude and heading data that navies will need to manage fire control and weapon systems on ships and submarines.

The navigation systems are also used by the Spanish Navy on their Buques de Accion Maritima ships. Navantia awarded Northrop Grumman a $1,5 million contract in 2008 to deliver the systems for four new BAM ships that were being constructed at the time.