Northrop Grumman (NOC) has secured a contract from OHB System to provide the space inertial reference system for Germany's SARah satellite-based radar reconnaissance system.

Under the deal, NOC will deliver its scalable space inertial reference unit-L (Scalable SIRU(™)-L) for sensor pointing and stabilisation as well as attitude control on the SARah satellite-based radar reconnaissance system.

"Our scalable space inertial reference unit is renowned for its industry-leading reliability and exceptional performance on orbit."

Part of NOC’s Scalable SIRU family, Scalable SIRU-L provides precision performance capability on space missions.

Scalable SIRU-L is equipped with same hardware and offers reliability of other standard model developed by NOC.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems navigation and positioning systems business unit vice-president Dean Ebert said: "Our scalable space inertial reference unit is renowned for its industry-leading reliability and exceptional performance on orbit."

The company noted that due to its new calibration process, Scalable SIRU-L is able to provide a shorter delivery schedule and lower cost than other models. 

Developed on the basis of NOC’s patented hemispherical resonator gyro (HRG), the Scalable SIRU provides high-precision, long-life attitude control solutions for various commercial, government and civil space missions.

The company’s HRG has so far completed more than 35 million operating hours in space.