US Navy Pours $166 Million Into Updated Electronic Testing System

The US Navy has ordered full production of the next-generation electronic testing stations worth $166 million for its avionics systems, Lockheed Martin said in a news release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The stations, dubbed Electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS), are expected to save the Navy $1 billion annually by eliminating the need to send avionics systems back to maintenance centers or their manufacturers for replacement or repair.

"The US Navy has approved full rate production for Lockheed Martin's Electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS)," the release stated. "Lockheed Martin is set to deliver 63 eCASS stations to the US Navy as part of a $166 million contract."

Lockheed Martin explained the new eCASS technology has a smaller footprint than the previous generation of CASS testing stations operated by the Navy and is faster and more reliable.

"Customers will be able to handle a larger workload with less equipment to ensure aircraft avionics are mission ready," the release said.

The eCASS is designed to be compatible with more than 550 test program sets, Lockheed Martin added.