Elbit Systems Buying Universal Avionics

In a further sign of consolidation in the aerospace marketplace, Elbit Systems and Universal Avionics announced recently that Elbit “is in the process of completing the acquisition of the privately owned U.S. company Universal Avionics Systems Corporation [UASC] through an asset-acquisition agreement.” While neither company released many details about the plan, it is expected to close soon. According to Elbit, “The parties received the necessary government approvals for the transaction.”

The joining of the two companies will create a new avionics integrator with the ability to serve a variety of aircraft manufacturer and aftermarket avionics needs. UASC’s new InSight Display System integrated avionics suite provides a platform to offer systems for new aircraft, as well as retrofit opportunities, and adding Elbit to the mix brings even more technology to the table.

For example, an InSight cockpit could include Elbit head-up displays (HUDs) since Elbit manufactures both HUDs and, through its Kollsman division, the sensors that provide enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) capabilities. EFVS is becoming even more important because of new FAA rules that will allow no-natural-vision landings using a HUD with EFVS.

UASC was founded and incorporated in 1980 as Universal Navigation by Hubert Naimer and remains a privately held company, with Joachim "Ted" Naimer as president and chairman. Following on from Hubert Naimer’s concept of a master navigation system, the company’s first employee, Chuck Edmondson, helped pioneer development of the flight management system (FMS), which incorporates navigation sensors and flight-planning capabilities into one unit. UASC was also a pioneer in development and certification of synthetic vision systems, receiving FAA certification of its Vision 1 SVS in 2006. The company also manufactures datalink communications products, cockpit voice recorders, displays, and other avionics systems at its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

FMS remains UASC’s foundational product, and the company’s latest FMSs are key elements of upgrades for the latest NextGen capabilities such as Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) and controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC). The InSight integrated cockpit takes full advantage of UASC’s FMS and NextGen capabilities.

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Why ‘NextGen’ matters

Elbit’s avionics capabilities serve a variety of aerospace markets, primarily military but including business aviation and air transport. Product lines cover communications, military and helicopter flight decks, electro-optics, and UAS avionics.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity this presents us,” said Dan Reida, UASC vice president of sales and marketing. “Our product lines are very complementary, there’s no overlap, so that was a natural [move] for us. Elbit’s very much into head-up [displays], and they have a variety of HUDs and EVSs, and they can combine those two. They’ve been successful with that. We’re the head-down [cockpit avionics] aspect, and together we can integrate those two and provide a total head-up, head-down solution.”

Elbit and UASC have worked previously on FMS projects, he said, “and this is a continued extension of those efforts.” The acquisition, Reida added, “opens up more channels to market for us. They’re heavy in the military market, and we have our channels on the business and commercial aviation side. We’re complementary in those regards.”