Defense Contractor Rockwell Collins Sells GPS Units Commercially

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 12, 2007 at 6:05 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 12, 2007 at 6:05 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) - Defense contractor Rockwell Collins says its global positioning system devices now used by thousands of soldiers worldwide will be sold commercially.

Cedar Rapids-based Rockwell Collins says it is making its Polaris-branded handheld or vehicle mounted GPS devices available for use by federal, civilian, military or international organizations requiring real-time positioning data. Potential customers are for disaster response or search and rescue crews, border patrol officers and people who montor seaports, lakes and rivers.

The GPS units have the same function and durability as the military versions.

The company says it has delivered more than 156,000 units to military customers and has orders for 50,000 more.

Rockwell Collins officials made the announcement Wednesday at a defense equipment exhibition in London.

The company also says it plans to sell a helmet-mounted GPS navigation system for parachutists, a system it is evaluating for potential military customers.

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