Matthew Nelson
Lockheed Martin has partnered with United Technologies Corp.'s Collins Aerospace business to produce an avionic system for NASA's future supersonic aircraft platform.
Both companies will jointly develop software applications and customize Pro Line Fusion avionics in an effort to address requirements for the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology demonstrator program, Collins Aerospace said Thursday.
The space agency awarded Lockheed a potential $247M contract in April of last year to build and test a Low-Boom Flight Demonstration vehicle, or X-Plane, that would soar up to 55K feet at a speed of 940 miles per hour and produce a sound at 75 perceived decibels.
Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager for military avionics and helicopters at Collins Aerospace, said the company will provide its avionics and EVS camera technology to help increase the efficiency and safety of the aircraft.
Under the partnership, Lockheed will also receive a system that will also include Collins-built touchscreen primary flight displays with multifunction windows, head-up display symbology, synthetic vision, communication radios and a suite of surveillance and navigation equipment.
Lockheed aims to conduct X-59's maiden flight in 2021 as part of efforts to help NASA collect data on the postential of low sonic boom technology to facilitate supersonic commercial travel over land.
