CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The German research ship Meteor was recently refitted with a new suite of C. Plath navigation and ship control electronics supplied by Litton Marine Systems.

The scope of equipment comprises a Navigat 2100 fiber optic gyrocompass and attitude reference system, a Navigat X MK 1 backup gyrocompass, a Navitwin III compass monitor and two Navipilot AD II self-tuning adaptive autopilots, along with repeaters, indicators, interfaces and cabling.

The pride of the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency's fleet of research vessels, the Meteor was originally built at the Schlichting yard in Travemuende in 1985. At that time it was the first ship to be fitted with the new C. Plath Navistab strapdown heading and attitude reference system.

Litton Marine Systems Inc. (LMS) is a subsidiary of Litton Industries Inc. LMS was formed from the consolidation of Sperry Marine (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), Decca Marine (New Malden, UK) and C. Plath (Hamburg, Germany). LMS manufactures and markets products under the Sperry, Decca and C. Plath brand names. With offices in 19 countries and authorized service depots in more than 300 locations worldwide, LMS provides "One Source" for marine navigation, communication and information systems, products and service.

Litton Industries, headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, is a $4.4 billion diversified technology company with over 40,000 employees worldwide. The company is a leader in navigation; guidance and control; electronic warfare; command, control and communications systems; information technology and shipbuilding and overhaul for government and commercial markets worldwide. Litton's Ingalls and Avondale shipyards together make up the largest builder of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and other customers.