OREANDA-NEWS. Rockwell Collins announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of the Matrix series projector product lines from Christie Digital Systems (“Christie®”). The transaction will give military and aviation customers a more comprehensive partner for all their current and future simulation and training projector needs.

Rockwell Collins will acquire the Matrix SIM and Matrix StIM™ product lines. The projectors will continue to be manufactured by Christie with system engineering, integration and support provided by Rockwell Collins. In addition, Rockwell Collins will provide service and support for Matrix projectors and all future Matrix offerings.

Rockwell Collins will also gain exclusive rights to sell other projection products and associated software tools from Christie in the worldwide simulation and training market segments for military or aviation applications.

“Rockwell Collins’ expertise and relationships in the military and aviation training segment, coupled with Christie’s technology, will deliver strong value to this growing customer base well into the future,” said LeAnn Ridgeway, vice president and general manager, Simulation and Training Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “This relationship will enable Christie to focus on core strengths in product design, development, and manufacturing of projection technology and allows Rockwell Collins, through its network of customers and relationships, to bring the best products to the military and aviation simulation and training market.”

“As the leading experts in military and aviation simulation, Rockwell Collins brings an unequalled depth of vision and customer understanding to these markets,” said Jack Kline, chairman, president and CEO, Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. “Christie is excited to support Rockwell Collins with our engineering and design strengths to provide products that will exceed customer expectations in these simulation markets for the next 15 to 20 years.”

The Matrix series of projectors complements other offerings from Rockwell Collins, including the Rockwell Collins ProSim™ ultra contrast projector, which was awarded the Blue Ribbon for Innovation by Military Training Technology in 2014, the EP-8100 image generator, as well as other third-party projector solutions. For example, the Rockwell Collins EP-8100 image generator has been designed to leverage the dual input capabilities of the Matrix StIM and now provides both out-the-window and IR band images from a single channel.

The Christie Matrix Series has won similar plaudits. For example, its unique capability to deliver true 120Hz RGB operation in simulator visual systems earned Christie a coveted 2014 Innovation Award from Military Training Technology. In February 2011, the Christie Matrix StIM™ was named a Blue Ribbon award winner for innovation by Military Training Technology, and Christie itself was named one of the publication’s Top Simulation and Training companies for 2010.

The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and is anticipated to close by the end of March 2016.