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Northrop Grumman Corporation has won a contract to supply high-accuracy inertial navigation systems (INS) for four new Buques de Acción Marítima (Maritime Action Ships) being built for the Spanish navy at the Navantia shipyard in Ferrol, in northwest Spain. The contract, valued at more than $1.5 million, was awarded by Navantia to Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit. Installation, commissioning and trials will be overseen by Aeromarine, Sperry Marine's sales and service representative in Spain.

Each of the ships will be fitted with one MK 39 Mod 3A ring laser gyro (RLG) INS and one MK 27 fiber-optic gyrocompass. The MK 39 Mod 3A will provide both high-accuracy geographic positioning information and precise attitude and heading data for the ship's navigation and weapon systems.

Sperry Marine has also supplied RLG INS for numerous Spanish navy surface ships and submarines. The MK 39 is the standard RLG equipment for 32 international navies.

The Maritime Action Ships will be 94-meters long, displace approximately 2500 tons, have a helicopter landing pad and be capable of attaining a maximum speed of 20 knots. The multi-mission ships will replace Spain's current light patrol vessels.