OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International, Inc. a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced that the D2™ Charlie aviator watch has been selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) for use by the pilots of the Lockheed U-2 aircraft. The high-sensitivity WAAS GPS-enabled D2 Charlie aviator watch incorporates global navigation capability, rich and colorful moving maps and more, providing pilots in the USAF with an exclusive, back-up navigation timepiece in the cockpit.
“Garmin is honored to have been selected by the United States Air Force to equip the men and women who fly one of the most iconic aircraft in the history of aviation,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “The D2 Charlie aviator watch will be an integral and functional part of the U-2 pilot’s toolkit.”
The U-2 is a versatile, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft that is used for intelligence gathering, research and communication purposes. The United States Air Force is expected to take delivery of over 100 D2 Charlie aviator watches for the specialized pilot group that flies the Lockheed U-2 aircraft. With a service ceiling of 70,000 feet, the D2 Charlie will provide unique benefits such as barometric-based O2 alerting and GPS-specific features including track, distance to the next waypoint, estimated time enroute and more.
Designed with pilots of varying backgrounds and missions, the D2 Charlie aviator watch features a colorful, dynamic moving map which depicts airports, navaids, roads, bodies of water, cities and more, offering greater situational awareness. When the D2 Charlie is paired with Garmin Connect™ on a connected mobile device, pilots can view weather radar on top of the map display relative to flight plan information. Pilots can also display estimated time enroute (ETE), universal coordinated time (UTC) or other pilot-selectable data fields overtop the map so it’s easy to monitor the progress of a flight and view pertinent flight information simultaneously.
An advanced, standalone navigator, the D2 Charlie aviator watch incorporates exclusive navigation functions and capabilities, including dedicated direct-to and nearest buttons along the side of the bezel that allow the user to easily build/modify flight plans. Airport information pages display communication frequencies, runway information (including dimensions and surface type), weather data and more for a specified airport. The flight log page allows pilots to conveniently reference recent flights at their wrist, displaying date, flight duration, total distance and more of a particular flight. Additionally, improved flight planning capabilities include the option to add multiple waypoints within a single flight plan and the ability to navigate direct to any waypoint in a flight plan.
D2 Charlie offers a bold design made of premium materials, including a sapphire scratch-resistant crystal lens and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated titanium bezel for improved durability. A sunlight-readable, high-resolution color display with an LED backlight on the watch face allows pilots to view data in most lighting conditions in the cockpit. The D2 Charlie offers up to 20 hours of battery life in GPS mode and up to 12 days in smartwatch mode.
Boasting a variety of connected features, the D2 Charlie merges style and sophistication into a single timepiece. Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology allows pilots to measure heart rate 24/7 alongside daily activity tracking1. The D2 Charlie aviator watch also comes preloaded with a full multisport toolset for running, golfing, cycling, swimming, skiing and more. Water rated to 100 meters2, it can also withstand swimming and other water activities. When paired with a compatible smartphone, customers can also view phone calls, text and email smart notifications3 at their wrist.
The D2 Charlie aviator watch with a leather wristband is available for a retail price of $799 and $999 for the titanium edition. Both versions of the D2 Charlie also come with a sporty silicone band. The D2 Charlie aviator watch also comes with free lifetime aviation database updates. For additional information, visit www.garmin.com/D2Charlie.
Garmin’s aviation business segment is a leading provider of solutions to OEM, aftermarket, military and government customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes navigation, communication, flight control, hazard avoidance, an expansive suite of ADS-B solutions and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and value. For more information about Garmin’s full line of avionics, go to www.garmin.com/aviation.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
1 See Garmin.com/ataccuracy for more details.
2 See Garmin.com/waterrating for more details.
3 When paired with compatible smartphone. See Garmin.com.ble for more details.
About Garmin
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and Connext are registered trademarks and D2, Garmin Connect and Garmin Elevate are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
