Harris brings better maps to Navy aircraft

Harris Corp. will upgrade a digital mapping system for the U.S. Navy under several contracts totaling nearly $30 million contract.

The award extends Harris’ work on the Tactical Airborne Moving Map Capability Digital Map System. With the new awards, Harris has won more than $140 million in contracts to work on the mapping program, the company said in an announcement today.

Under the new contracts, Harris will deliver 14 preproduction digital map systems with embedded graphic cards that can generate two independent, high-resolution digital map channels for aircrews. The systems deliver moving maps and other information via cockpit displays. The mapping system enhances situational awareness, the company said.

Harris also will deliver 158 digital map computers, 132 digital video map computers, 17 of which will be provided to the Royal Australian Air Force.

The company also will work on a future airborne capabilities environment for a range of tactical aircraft.

The mapping systems Harris is selling give aircrews a graphical presentation of the aircraft’s current position as well as the positions of targets, threats, terrain features and other information.

The systems are used on many U.S. and allied aircraft and helicopters, including the Navy's F/A-18C/D, F/A-18E/F and EA-18G; the Marine Corps' F/A-18A/C/D, AV-8B, AH-1Z, and UH-1Y; the AW101 for Denmark and Italy; the CF-18 A/B for Canada and the F/A-18A/B for Australia. The systems also are in use by the military forces of Switzerland, Finland and Spain, the company said.

Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., is ranked No. 13 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest government contractors.