VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- Feb. 20, 2008 -- NGRAIN, an award-winning provider of 3D performance support solutions, announced today that the company has been selected to provide a customized version of their commercial-off-the-shelf 3D visualization and annotation software as part of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Autonomic Logistics Information Systems ("ALIS") program. ALIS, the information infrastructure for the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, provides core functionality for maintenance, supply, and training operations to aircraft technicians worldwide.
"All aspects of the F-35 program are designed to increase operational availability and reduce support costs," said Keith Pollock, NGRAIN Director of Business Development and project lead. "F-35 ALIS selected NGRAIN as one of the participating vendors for this project because our innovative solutions for 3D visualization provide unprecedented usability and accuracy at a low per-unit cost."
The JSF program is an international partnership aimed at developing an affordable, multi-role, fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is the largest defense acquisition program to date, with a total projected value of more than $276 billion and is supported by nine participant countries.
NGRAIN's software will be used by aircraft maintainers to record damage and repair details on an aircraft faster and more accurately by marking up a virtual 3D model of the aircraft. The 3D model will provide maintainers with easy access to highly-accurate damage and repair status and history of the aircraft. Not only will maintainers be able to assess which damages are in need of immediate repair more efficiently and accurately, they will also be able to interactively reference the aircraft damage and repair information at other operating locations.
NGRAIN develops 3D software to support the sustainment of complex equipment. In addition to its growing customer base and product sales, the Company has received funding to further the development and commercialization of its 3D products. In 2005, the Company received a $5 million Technology Partnership Canada investment to enhance its products and technology in support of the JSF F-35 fighter program.
"We are very proud to see our software integrated into Lockheed Martin's ALIS system," stated Paul Lindahl, CEO of NGRAIN. "As an emerging Canadian software company, this is a very admirable group to be working with and an excellent way for NGRAIN to demonstrate both our expertise in interactive 3D technology as well as the vast benefits of NGRAIN software's support of interoperability and portability."
Through the program, NGRAIN will see its technology installed in thousands of portable maintenance aids used by aircraft maintainers around the globe. The first delivery of the aircraft is scheduled to be in 2009, with a total of 3,000 aircrafts booked for production.
About NGRAIN
NGRAIN transforms the sustainment of complex equipment with 3D performance support solutions for the aerospace and defense industry. NGRAIN increases equipment readiness by accelerating learning on complex equipment, enabling first-time-right performance, and reducing maintenance cycle time.
NGRAIN is optimized for web deployment and portable devices. With NGRAIN, anyone can rapidly incorporate interactive 3D equipment simulations into sustainment applications, including courseware and technical manuals.
Customers include all branches of the United States military, the Canadian Forces, and leading defense manufacturers and system integrators, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and CAE.
