Garmin to Supply G3000-based Flight Deck for Special Forces’ Strike Aircraft
L3Harris will add combat electronics to Garmin’s off-the-shelf avionics package for Special Forces’ Sky Warden strike aircraft.
Garmin announced L3Harris’ selection of the G3000 tandem integrated flight deck in the Sky Warden as part of a U.S. Special Operations Command Armed Overwatch program contract.[Courtesy: Garmin International]
Garmin (NYSE: GRMN ) said L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) chose the company’s G3000 tandem integrated flight deck for use in its Sky Warden strike aircraft as part of a contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command Armed Overwatch program.
The G3000 provides the Special Operations Command with the latest communication, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management capabilities using off-the-shelf technology that is based on Garmin’s familiar open system architecture design. L3Harris has integrated its mission management system, military sensors, communications equipment, and weapons systems into the G3000 touch screen for use in the Sky Warden.
“Our strategic relationship with L3Harris integrates the open system architecture G3000 flight deck as a critical enabler for Sky Warden’s close air support and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin has an established history of supplying innovative, forward-looking avionics to militaries across the globe and we are honored to have our G3000 integrated flight deck support the U.S. Special Forces.”
The G3000 integrated flight deck will allow L3Harris to rapidly deploy new technology, while reducing costs, the companies said.
“Sky Warden features a cutting-edge flight deck and open mission system interfaces to support
integration of future technologies for the Armed Overwatch program,” said Luke Savoie, president, ISR sector, L3Harris. “We’ve collaborated with Garmin for years and look forward to continuing our strategic relationship to enhance warfighter capabilities.”
The G3000 is compatible with night vision goggles and has state-of-the-art synthetic vision technology that blends an “out-the-window” view of surroundings on large, primary flight displays. The Sky Warden is also equipped with Garmin’s GFC 700 digital autopilot which couples to the flight management system to develop complex, pilot-configurable search and rescue patterns. Other features within the Sky Warden’s flight deck include a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), and traffic information through ADS-B.
The Armed Overwatch program includes delivery of up to 75 manned, fixed-wing aircraft, Garmin said.
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