The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that GRiD Defence Systems is to supply the GRiDCASE 1517 as the replacement Mission Planning Laptop for the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat, the Royal Navy and British Army’s multi-role maritime and battlefield helicopter.
Before each sortie, crews rely on rapid, secure transfer of mission planning data, including software configurations, route modelling, system diagnostics, map layers, target data and tactical flight paths. Therefore, this award puts the critical work undertaken by mission planning hardware in the spotlight.
AW159 – Crown Copyright 2025
Contract Award
The most crucial link between GRiD hardware and defence mission planning is lifecycle support. Commercial computers change internally every few months, which would require constant, costly recertification of military software. GRiD’s consultative engineering ensures that custom configurations remain supported and integrated for the long haul, providing a dependable foundation for new and established tactical platforms alike.
This is why the 1517 is perfectly suited to supporting the armed forces’ missions. It has been developed by the GRiD team with the military and aerospace industry in mind. The GRiDCASE 1517 is housed within a fully sealed, aluminium chassis and is built to comply with all military specifications for environmental, EMC and TEMPEST. The 1517 contains a fully sealed chassis, keyboard and thumbstick and is certified to DEF STAN 59-411 Land Class B. Furthermore, it is also able to withstand operating temperatures from -28ºC to +63ºC.
Mission Planning
Mission planning is highly collaborative and hardware intensive. A laptop hosting an MPS must connect directly to complex combat assets — such as the AW159 Wildcat or even a Eurofighter Typhoon — to facilitate critical data loading, system analysis, and sensor testing.
To bridge this digital-to-physical gap, GRiD uses a “Modified Off-The-Shelf” (MOTS) approach. Hardware like the GRiDCASE 1517 features a fully customisable rear connector panel. This allows the hardware to link directly into standard military avionics data buses, including MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, or STANAG 3910, using rugged, military-spec circular connectors. Because these interfaces are integrated directly into a single chassis, there is no need for bulky external expansion boxes or fragile commercial peripherals.
Furthermore, modern mapping and tactical software are visually intensive, requiring clear, crisp detail for accurate decision-making. GRiD’s hardware options scale to match the environment:
- For dedicated setups, the range stretches up to top-tier units housing 17″ and 19″ displays, which are highly favoured for stationary or command-post Mission Planning Systems.
- On the mobile-end, devices like the GRiDCASE 2507 pack a 7″ Full HD display into a 1kg tablet. It utilises a ten-point multi-touch resistive touchscreen designed for mapping precision and fast-paced field planning, running full versions of Windows or Linux on a highly portable footprint.
A laptop used for flight-line setup or tactical planning faces threats that would immediately kill a standard PC. GRiD’s architecture guarantees operational survivability through strict military qualifications:
- Environmental (MIL-STD-810 / DEF STAN 00-35): The devices feature a fully sealed, conductively cooled aluminium chassis. With zero moving parts, they operate seamlessly in temperatures ranging from -34°C to +63°C and are impervious to heavy vibration, water ingress, dust, and shock.
- Electronic (MIL-STD-461 / DEF STAN 59-411): They maintain incredibly quiet Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) profiles, ensuring they do not interfere with sensitive aircraft avionics or emit signals that an enemy could exploit.
- For environments where data security or physical hazards are elevated, specific units are certified to TEMPEST standards (preventing electromagnetic eavesdropping) and ATEX standards (ensuring safe operation in potentially explosive flight line atmospheres).
If you want to learn more on GRiD’s product range and how we operate securely, please see here or if you would like to discuss how GRiD can support your operations or upcoming requirements in more detail, please get in touch sales@griduk.com.
