MBDA and UTC Aerospace Systems Sept. 9 said they have initiated a pioneering development program of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for a multitude of programs within, and potentially beyond, MBDA’s current Complex Weapons (CW) Portfolio.
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| Portfolio IMU and Potential Applications Image: MBDA, UTAS |
This will be done by a focus on Value for Money (VfM) through Modularity and Reuse (M&R) at all levels of a missile system, with MBDA and UTC Aerospace Systems transforming the way they work together with a joint desire to move toward a much closer, more collaborative business relationship.
IMUs, a critical element of the missile’s guidance, navigation and control functions, have traditionally been based on a number of differing technologies including high cost fiber-optics.
UTC Aerospace Systems, which is the Design Authority, will use Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based IMUs, through investment in their operationally-proven MEMS sensor technology. One outcome will be a high performance IMU that meets the MBDA performance requirements but is smaller, more versatile and offers unparalleled value for money when compared to traditional technologies.
This high performance IMU is being developed to be backward compatible with one of existing UTC Aerospace Systems MEMS IMUs. This allows its adoption within multiple programs while providing a form and fit interchangeable system upgrade opportunity for scenarios that require increased range and performance.
MBDA Executive Group Director Technical and Managing Director U.K. Steve Wadey said, “This demonstrates MBDA’s commitment to the Team CW philosophy by delivering innovative solutions and long term value for money. It is being achieved by improving our way of working with strategic suppliers and harvesting the benefits from Commercial and Military Off-The-Shelf (COTS and MOTS) products in our systems.”
UTC Aerospace Systems Managing Director Kevin Pindard said, “At Plymouth, we are delighted to be working closely with MBDA to take our operationally proven U.K. sovereign MEMS IMU capability and develop that into the next generation of IMUs for use across civil and defence aerospace applications.”