CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded Litton Marine Systems a five-year maintenance support contract for the bridge electronics systems on the new icebreaker USCGC HEALY (WAGB 20).

The contract calls for Litton Marine Systems to assume responsibility for all aspects of preventive and corrective maintenance for the ship's integrated bridge systems (IBS), including onboard and shoreside spares inventory, supply support, field service, developmental engineering, training and configuration control. The contract, including a base year and four one-year options, has a total value of up to $750,000.

Litton Marine Systems was the primary supplier of navigation and control systems for USCGC HEALY. The ship is equipped with a fully automated integrated bridge system, which includes a Sperry Voyage Management System (VMS) with five conning positions, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), steering control system, dual navigation radars, gyrocompass, speed log, GPS, weather station and other sensors.

USCGC HEALY was constructed by Avondale Industries in New Orleans. Louisiana, and commissioned in late 1999. The ship is homeported in Seattle, Washington. The primary mission of the 420 ft (128 m) icebreaker is to serve as a high-latitude scientific research platform and ice escort to supply vessels supporting installations and bases in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

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 is the nation's largest builder of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and designs, builds, and overhauls surface ships for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company is a leading information technology (IT) contractor to the U.S. government and provides specialized IT services to commercial customers and government customers in local/foreign jurisdictions. Litton is a leading provider of defense and commercial electronics technology, components and materials for customers worldwide. Headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, Litton has more than 40,000 employees and $5 billion in annual revenue. For more information, visit Litton's Web site at www.litton.com.