Full Rate Production of Link-16 Begins for H-1 Aircraft Fleet

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to execute the full rate production of Link-16 for the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters.

The $65 million contract will involve the integration of data link hardware across the fleet.

“As lead technology integrator for H-1 Avionics, we are expanding our long-standing partnership with the Marine Corps to modernize electronic systems across the fleet through an open systems architecture approach,” said Lindsay McEwen, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman. “Link-16 full rate production is the starting point.”

Link-16 is a secure data link that allows H-1 crews to share data and communications with other aircraft and users on military networks. This capability is a critical mission enabler as the Department of Defense moves to Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

Northrop Grumman’s mission systems solution for the H-1 fleet is trusted and combat-proven, with more than 450,000 total flight hours. The innovative processes, capabilities and open architecture developed for the H-1 fleet are directly applicable to other platforms and could be utilized in future aircraft development programs such as NAVAIR Vertical Take Off and Landing Family of Systems (VTOL FoS), MUX, and others.