Esterline CMC Electronics to Provide Flight Management System for C-27J Spartan

May 27, 2014
Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi has selected Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) to provide the FMS for its worldwide C-27J Spartan fleet and for Team Spartan's offering for the upcoming FWSAR (Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Replacement) Program.

Montreal, Canada, May 26, 2014 – Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi has selected Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) to provide the flight  management  system (FMS)  for its worldwide C-27J  Spartan  fleet  and  for Team Spartan’s offering for the upcoming FWSAR (Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Replacement) Program. Esterline CMC Electronics was also recently selected to supply its TacView® Portable Mission Display and SureSight® Enhanced Vision System sensor for Team Spartan in Canada.

The company, headquartered in Montreal, has over 100 years of experience providing high-technology electronics products, facilities in Ottawa and Montreal, and over 1,000 employees across Canada.  CMC’s high-performance FMS systems are already at the heart of the Canadian Department of National Defence A310 Polaris fleet upgrade Program.

CMC’s Flight Management System  selected by Alenia Aermacchi is fully certified for use in commercial aviation and military aviation aircraft. It combines both the flight management and the ARINC 739 MCDU control display unit functions in the same cockpit mounted enclosure. It incorporates not only the flight navigation features, but also provides control and display for external subsystems. It is unique among FMS equipment offered for retrofit applications as it provides tactical procedures as well as several fully certified FMS-resident functions to support future CNS/ATM and GATM functionalities, which will be progressively introduced over the coming  years (2014-2020).  

“The addition of CMC as the provider of the flight management system reinforces Team Spartan’s commitment to building and strengthening a strong Canadian supply chain and  leverages the strong avionics and system integration capabilities of  Esterline  CMC Electronics,” said Ben Stone, president and chief executive officer of Alenia Aermacchi North America. “This  premiere flight management system will greatly enhance the C-27J’s capabilities for the FWSAR mission.”

Greg Yeldon, president, Esterline CMC Electronics, added, “This is a prestigious recognition for us, to be selected by a world-class OEM as the FMS provider for their worldwide fleet requirements. It is a gratifying endorsement of our core navigational expertise, at a time when CNS/ATM requirements will drive avionics modernization programs in both commercial and military aircraft in both the short term and foreseeable future.” 

The C-27J is a solution that meets the demands of the country’s incredibly large area of SAR responsibility with a single aircraft fleet.  Along with a capable aircraft, Team Spartan’s FWSAR solution comes with a commitment to deliver 100% of contract value industrial offsets and benefits in the form of hundreds of long-term jobs and farreaching investments in Canadian firms and technology.
 
About Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi 

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, has a role of primary importance in the world’s civil and defence aeronautical industry, counts a total workforce of ca. 11,000 people and operates in the design, development, production and integrated support of commercial and military aircraft, trainers, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. In 2013 it reported revenues of € 3.34 billion, orders of € 3.98 billion and a backlog of € 9.0billion 

About General Dynamics Canada 

With an established Canadian presence for more than 60 years with employees in Ottawa, Calgary and Halifax, General Dynamics Canada is Canada’s largest defense electronics company with a worldwide reputation for excellence in the production of leading-edge, technology-based, integrated solutions for land, airborne and maritime applications. The company’s success is based on strong systems engineering experience, ongoing investment in research and development, collaboration with commercial and military systems industry leaders, and a singular focus on customer service.  The company’s portfolio of next-generation Command, Control, Communication, Computing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions and integrated mission systems is backed by complete systems integration and in-service support. General Dynamics Canada is part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). More information about 
the company is available at www.gdcanada.com.

About DRS Technologies Canada

DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. designs, manufactures and supports a broad range of military communications, 
electro-optics, surveillance, and sensor signal processing systems for naval and ground applications as well as 
electronic warfare  threat simulation and training systems ranging from computer-based training to high-power 
threat simulators. DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. is also an experienced provider of turnkey state-of-the-art 
electronics manufacturing, integration and test services for various aerospace, defence and space applications. 
DRS Technologies Canada, Ltd. is a subsidiary of DRS Technologies, Inc. (DRS), a leading supplier of integrated 
products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide, and a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI).

About Esterline CMC Electronics 

Esterline CMC Electronics (www.cmcelectronics.ca) has achieved an international reputation for innovation and 
excellence in the design and manufacture of electronics products for the military and commercial aviation 
markets. Esterline CMC’s focus is on delivering innovative cockpit systems integration and avionics solutions to its 
customers worldwide.  Its principal locations are in Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; and Chicago, Illinois. 
Esterline CMC Electronics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Esterline Corporation (NYSE:ESL, www.esterline.com), a 
specialized aerospace and defense company headquartered in  Bellevue, Washington.  Esterline Corporation 
employs close to 12,000 people worldwide.