Rockwell Collins
Avionics and communications supplier from Collins Radio to Collins Aerospace.
Rockwell Collins, Inc. was a multinational company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that supplied avionics, information technology systems, and services to government agencies and aircraft builders. Its origins trace back to the Collins Radio Company, which was bought by Rockwell International in 1973 after running into financial trouble. In 2001, Rockwell International’s avionics division was spun off as a separate firm, keeping the Rockwell Collins name. The company focused heavily on defense and commercial avionics markets and no longer sold receivers to the general public.
The Collins Radio Company was founded in 1933 by Arthur A. Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It designed and built shortwave radio gear and equipment for the AM broadcast industry, supplying the military, scientists, and major AM radio stations. In 1933, Collins provided the communications link for Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s South Pole expedition. By 1936, the company was producing the 12H audio console, the 12X portable field announcer’s box, and the 300E and 300F broadcast transmitters. During World War II, the 212A1 and 212B1 models replaced the 12H, and Collins became the main supplier of radio and navigation equipment for the military.
After the war, Collins expanded into flight-control instruments, radio-communication devices, and satellite voice transmissions. Its equipment supported U.S. space programs, including communications gear for astronauts and tracking systems for spacecraft, used in Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. In 1973, Collins equipment was also used on the Skylab program to link astronauts with Earth.
Rockwell Collins grew through acquisitions. In April 2000, it agreed to buy Sony Trans Com, a maker of inflight entertainment systems based in Irvine, California, from Sony Corp. (Sony had bought that business from Sundstrand Corporation in 1989). In December 2000, Rockwell Collins expanded its services to commercial and executive aviation in Mercosur countries. Other acquisitions included Hughes-Avicom’s in-flight entertainment business (1998), Intertrade Ltd., Flight Dynamics, K Systems, Inc. (Kaiser companies), Communication Solutions, Inc., Airshow, Inc. (2002), NLX’s simulation business (2003), parts of Evans & Sutherland, TELDIX GmbH, IP Unwired, Anzus Inc. (2006), Information Technology and Applications Corp (2007), Athena Technologies, Datapath Inc.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Aerospace, Defense
- Predecessors
- Collins Radio Company · Rockwell International
- Founder
- <!-- or
- Defunct
- 2018-11-27
- Fate
- Acquired by United Technologies Corporation and merged with UTC Aerospace Systems to form Collins Aerospace
- Operating Income
- 1.102 billion (2017)
- Net Income
- 705 million (2017)
- Num Employees
- 31,200 (2018)
- Hq Location
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Arthur A. Collins founded Collins Radio Company in 1933 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, designing shortwave radio equipment and gear for the AM broadcast industry. The company supplied military, scientific, and commercial customers, including providing communications for Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd's 1933 South Pole expedition. During World War II, Collins became the principal supplier of military radio and navigation equipment, and in the postwar years expanded into flight-control instruments, satellite voice transmissions, and space communications for Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. The U.S. Skylab program in 1973 also used Collins equipment for astronaut-to-Earth communication.
After financial difficulties, Collins Radio was purchased by Rockwell International in 1973. In 2001, the avionics division was spun off to form Rockwell Collins, Inc., which focused on defense and commercial avionics and no longer marketed receivers to the public. The company grew through numerous acquisitions, including Hughes-Avicom's in-flight entertainment business (1998), Sony Trans Com (2000), Airshow, Inc. (2002), ARINC (2014), and BE Aerospace (2017). Rockwell Collins was a major supplier of in-flight entertainment, competing with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Thales Group, and JetBlue's LiveTV.
Reader's Guide
Rockwell Collins's significance lies in its long heritage from the Collins Radio Company, which pioneered shortwave and broadcast communications and became a critical supplier to the U.S. military and space programs. Its equipment was used in the Byrd South Pole expedition, World War II, and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, as well as Skylab. The company's postwar receivers, such as the R-390A, were renowned for performance and ruggedness, serving as military workhorses for decades. After the 1973 acquisition by Rockwell International, the company transitioned to a focused avionics and in-flight entertainment provider, acquiring numerous firms to expand its portfolio. Its 2018 acquisition by United Technologies and integration into Collins Aerospace under RTX Corporation marked the end of the Rockwell Collins name, but its legacy endures in the many aircraft and systems that rely on its technology. The company's products, from the 75A amateur receiver to the ART-13 transmitter, remain collectible and historically important.
Did You Know?
- Collins Radio provided communications equipment for the 1933 South Pole expedition of Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd.
- The Collins R-390A receiver was designated top secret until the late 1960s due to its performance.
- Rockwell Collins acquired Sony Trans Com, a manufacturer of inflight entertainment systems, in 2000.
- The company's equipment was used in Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, as well as the Skylab program.
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