Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by Alenia SIA to supply a newly designed navigation system for the M-346 advanced fighter trainer aircraft. The M-346 is a fly-by-wire prototype whose modern avionics could enable it to become a trainer for the new generation of combat aircraft and which has recently been selected as the winner in a UAE lead-in fighter trainer and light attack aircraft competition.

Northrop Grumman Italia will supply the aircraft transducer unit, a highly accurate and reliable avionics unit which will be integrated into the fly-by-wire control system of the M-346 trainer. The aircraft transducer unit uses a quadruple redundant installation of the company's LISA-200 fibre-optic gyro attitude and heading reference unit (AHRS).

The LISA-200 AHRS is a lightweight fibre-optic gyro attitude and heading reference system based on the Northrop Grumman LN-200 inertial measurement unit. The LISA-200 is in full production and is in service on several military rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. Due to its modern modular architecture, the LISA-200 can be provided as a complete system when integrated with flight management and control software.

"Fibre-optic gyro technology provides reliable and durable navigation systems needed for modern aircraft as exemplified by the M-346 advanced trainer," said Carmine Maccarone, general manager of Northrop Grumman Italia.

The M-346 offers greater performance than current advanced trainers and manoeuvrability similar to that of combat aircraft. It provides digital avionics and the ability to simulate sensors and threats.

Northrop Grumman Italia will supply 10 aircraft transducer prototype units to Alenia SIA under this development contract. The first unit is scheduled for delivery in September 2009.