Curtiss-Wright Awarded Multi-Million Dollar Contract for Italian Frigate Program
Curtiss-Wright Corporation today announced that it has received a multi-million dollar contract from Fincantieri S.p.A for the supply of TC-ASIST helicopter handling systems for the first two ships of the FREMM frigate program. The contract also contains options for the remaining eight ships planned in the class for the Italian Navy.
Curtiss-Wright’s Motion Control segment will supply the TC-ASIST systems and will perform work for this contract at its facility in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with deliveries scheduled to begin in late
2009. With over 40 years of experience, Curtiss-Wright is a leader in designing and manufacturing ship-borne aircraft handling systems, underwater sensor handling systems and specialized structures for military customers.
The TC-ASIST (Twin Claw-Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse) system is a variant of the well-established ASIST helicopter handling system. It allows integration of the ASIST shipboard helicopter handling concept without structural modifications to the existing Italian helicopter fleet. The Italian Horizon class frigate utilizes a similar system to provide superior operating capability with both EH-101 and NH-90 helicopters.
The FREMM frigate is a joint Italian/French program with a fleet of 27 ships planned in all. The multi-function frigate is being designed to incorporate the latest advancements in shipboard mission systems.