U.S. Navy LCS to be equipped with iXblue Defense Systems Inertial Navigation Systems

iXblue Defense Systems, a global provider of innovative solutions in the areas of navigation, positioning and underwater imaging, has been chosen by OSI Maritime Systems for integration into its warship Integrated Bridge and Navigation System (IBNS), a Marine Equipment Directive Type Approved certified Integrated Navigation System, to equip Lockheed Martin Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) 27, 29 and 31.

Already equipping over 111 U.S. Coast Guard cutters, this installation marks the first time that iXblue Defense Systems’ navigation technology has been chosen to equip a surface warship for the U.S. Navy. The company’s Marins Inertial Navigation Systems, are manufactured at Federal Electronics’ facility in Cranston, Rhode Island.

“We have been working with the U.S. Navy for several years now suppling systems to the unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) and swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) markets and are very proud to now be onboard a U.S. Navy surface combatant,” states Carl Carlson, Business Development Manager at iXblue Defense Systems. “Our company has built its reputation on delivering innovative, state-of-the-art fiber-optic gyroscope-based navigation solutions that deliver superior performance and reliability at reduced size, weight and power (SWaP), and do so in a cost effective manner.”

Based on iXblue Fiber-Optic Gyroscope (FOG) technology, the Marins Series INS offer unsurpassed performance levels and provide accurate position, heading, roll, pitch and speed information with low SWaP, in any environment, including GNSS denied.

Precisely matching the exacting requirements of major combatant vessels in terms of performance, reliability and cost of ownership, major navies and coast guards worldwide have already selected the Marins Series, including the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy for all their surface ships and submarines. Besides the Marins systems being delivered to the LCS program, more than 390 other types of fiber-optic gyroscopes and INS’s have been delivered by iXblue to U.S. customers, including U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).