Litton Marine Systems has received type approval for its Decca BridgeMaster E 180 and 250 flat-screen marine radars. This approval, granted by the U.K. Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, signifies that the flat-screen radars meet the stringent International Electrotechnical Commission specifications for performance and environmental requirements. It covers the 15-inch BridgeMaster E 180 and 18- and 20-inch BridgeMaster E 250 models, and includes as an option the company's breakthrough "Vision" technology for automatic clutter suppression.

The new series of flat-screen radars provide significant savings in space and weight over traditional CRT displays. This is especially important for high-speed craft, in which size and weight are significant constraints. The flat-screen BridgeMaster E display modules are just four inches (10 cm) thick. The active-matrix high-resolution liquid crystal display provides wide viewing angles and a bright, clear picture in direct sunshine. The screen may be dimmed to avoid glare for nighttime operation.