Rockwell Collins To Provide Common Avionics Architecture System For India’s Chinook Helicopters

Boeing has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to provide its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) for 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters for the Indian Ministry of Defence.

“We have a successful track record of integrating CAAS on Chinook helicopters that will ensure that the Indian Defence Ministry will receive on-time, on-budget, advanced avionics,” said Troy Brunk, vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “The CAAS cockpit provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness while reducing crew workload and enhanced levels of flight safety. These are critically important to safe and effective operation of military aircraft.”

Initially developed for the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Aviation MH-47G Chinook and MH-60L/M Black Hawk aircraft, CAAS is a fully integrated cockpit flight and mission management capability that provides exceptional mission effectiveness for today’s modernized cargo and utility helicopters.

Adopted by the U.S. Army as standard CH-47F cockpit avionics, CAAS is currently fielded on over 400 Chinooks worldwide and is expected to be installed in another 200 aircraft across the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and with services in partner countries over the next 10 years.

Integration work is scheduled to begin this year and run through 2018. The Rockwell Collins India Design Center will provide implementation and test of specific software changes requested by the Indian Army to meet key mission needs and safety requirements.

“This contract and the work we’re performing in country re-affirms our commitment to ‘Make in India’ initiatives,” said Sunil Raina, managing director of Rockwell Collins India.