PakRev.com Reports: New contract expands WECDIS fit fleetwide

New contract expands WECDIS fit fleetwide :diablo:
PakRev.com Reports
Wednesday, 27 July 2005
Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems has been awarded a contract worth around GBP10 million (USD17.4 million) to equip minor war vessels, survey vessels and landing craft with the Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System (WECDIS) or derivative electronic chart functionality. This follow-on contract expands on the fleetwide retrofit of WECDIS to major UK Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) units already under way, for which Lockheed Martin is prime contractor.

The Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster is one of the first RN ships to receive the WECDIS fit and is running software at the latest release 5.0.3 standard. Speaking to JDW on board Westminster, Lieutenant Michael White, Staff Warfare Officer (Navigation) Electronic Chart Systems to Flag Officer Sea Training, characterised WECDIS as a “computer-based system that integrates inputs from a range of ship sensors [including GPS, automatic radar plotting aid, log, gyro, automatic identification system and navigation radars] to provide a robust and highly accurate electronic navigation picture with multiple redundancy”.

A key feature of WECDIS is its ability to host additional military layers. “This means we can read other data other than chart information,” said Lt White. “For example, we can overlay other UK Hydrographic Office products showing contour line bathymetry; small bottom objects; large bottom objects [wrecks]; routes, areas and limits; and environment, seabed and beach.”

Source: PakRev.com