Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has just completed a major upgrade of the Integrated Bridge System (IBS) aboard the U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaker USCGC Healy (WAGB 20).

The upgrade package for the Healy included replacing the older-generation IBS computers with new high-speed processors, installation of large high-resolution flat-screen consoles and a new version of Sperry Marine's Voyage Management System (VMS) software specifically tailored for the ship's requirements. The contract included navigation team training at Sperry Marine's certified training facility in Charlottesville, Va., and aboard the ship. Onboard and shoreside spares were also provided.

Sperry Marine was the primary supplier of navigation and control systems for the Healy, which was commissioned in late 1999. In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded the company a five-year maintenance support contract covering all aspects of preventive maintenance and spares management for the ship’s bridge electronics.

Homeported in Seattle, Wash., the 420-ft. icebreaker's primary mission 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.

Sperry Marine, with headquarters in Charlottesville, and major engineering and support offices in New Malden, U.K., and Hamburg, Germany, is part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. Sperry Marine provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries, and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of defense and commercial electronic systems and sensors, including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space sensors, marine and naval systems, government systems, and logistics services.

For commercial sales inquiries, contact Sperry Marine by phone, +1 434 974 2656 or by e-mail, sales_commercial@sperry-marine.com. For military sales inquiries, contact Sperry Marine by phone, +1 434 974 2134 or by e-mail, sales_military@sperry-marine.com. Visit our website at www.sperry-marine.com.