Litton Marine Systems has won orders to supply fiber optic gyrocompass and radar systems for 12new patrol boats being built for the Portugal Customs Brigade. The 12 vessels, under construction at Conafi Shipyard, will be fitted with Litton SR 2100 fiber-optic gyrocompasses and Litton DeccaBridgeMaster E 250 X-band radars.

The new 16.5-meter high-speed vessels are scheduled to enter service starting in September 2000. According to J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice-president of marketing and customer support, this is one of the largest single orders received by Litton for the new-generation fiber-optic gyro system, which was introduced in 1998. The fiber-optic gyro provides reliable operation under high-dynamic conditions, has no moving parts and requires no maintenance. It is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional gyrocompass.