View source for Rockwell Collins

{{More references|date=September 2023}}{{short description|Defunct US-based electronics company (2001-2018)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rockwell Collins, Inc.
| logo = Rockwell_Collins_logo.svg
| image = Heidelberg_Rockwell_Collins_20101004.jpg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Aerospace industry]], [[Defense (military)|Defense]]
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = [[Collins Aerospace]] <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
| defunct = {{End date|2018|11|27}}
| fate = Acquired by [[United Technologies Corporation]] and merged with [[UTC Aerospace Systems]] to form [[Collins Aerospace]]
| key_people = 
| products = [[Avionics]], [[radios]]
| revenue = {{increase}}{{US$|6.822 billion}} (2017)<ref name=LordAnkur>{{cite web |url=http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0001137411/5d4f39c1-8c6c-46a3-9de0-d369ae85758e.pdf |title=  Rockwell Collins Annual Report 2017 |type=Form 10-K, United States Securities and Exchange Commission }}</ref>{{rp|28}}
| operating_income = {{increase}}[[United States dollar|US$]]1.102 billion (2017)
| net_income = {{decrease}}[[United States dollar|US$]]705 million (2017)
| num_employees = 31,200<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/rockwell-collins/ |title=Rockwell Collins |website=Fortune 500 |at=Company Info |date=30 September 2018 |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727160855/https://fortune.com/fortune500/rockwell-collins/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2018
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2001}}
| location = [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]], United States
| homepage = 
}}
'''Rockwell Collins, Inc.''' was a [[multinational corporation]] headquartered in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa|Cedar Rapids]], [[Iowa]], providing [[avionics]] and [[information technology]] systems and services to [[Government agency|government agencies]] and [[aircraft manufacturer]]s. It was formed when the '''Collins Radio Company''', facing financial difficulties, was purchased by [[Rockwell International]] in 1973. In 2001, the avionics division of Rockwell International was spun off to form the current Rockwell Collins, Inc., retaining its name.

The company was acquired by [[United Technologies Corporation]] on November 27, 2018, and now operates as part of [[Collins Aerospace]], a subsidiary of the [[RTX Corporation]] (formerly Raytheon Technologies).

== History ==
[[Arthur A. Collins]] founded Collins Radio Company in 1933 in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]. It designed and produced both [[shortwave radio]] equipment and equipment for the AM radio broadcast industry. Collins supplied the military, the scientific community, and the larger AM radio stations with equipment. Collins provided the equipment to establish a communications link with the [[South Pole]] expedition of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Richard E. Byrd]] in 1933.

In 1936, Collins had begun production of the 12H audio console, 12X portable field announcers box, and the 300E and 300F broadcast transmitters. Throughout [[World War II]], the 212A1 and 212B1 replaced the 12H design. Collins became the principal supplier of radio and navigation equipment used in the military.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In the postwar years, the Collins Radio Company expanded its work in the communications field, while broadening its technology into flight-control instruments, radio-communication devices, and satellite voice transmissions. Collins Radio Company provided communications for the United States' role in the [[Space Race]], including equipment for astronauts to communicate with earth stations and equipment to track and communicate with spacecraft. Collins communications equipment was used for Projects [[Project Mercury|Mercury]], [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] and [[Project Apollo|Apollo]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} In 1973, the U.S. [[Skylab]] program used Collins equipment to provide communication from the astronauts to earth.

=== Rockwell Collins ===
[[File:EBACE 2019, Le Grand-Saconnex (EB190186).jpg|thumb|Rockwell Collins avionics demonstrator aircraft]]
After facing financial difficulties, the Collins Radio Company was purchased by Rockwell International in 1973. In 2001, the avionics division of Rockwell International was spun off to form Rockwell Collins, Inc, retaining its name. Rockwell Collins was highly concentrated in the defense and commercial avionics markets, and no longer marketed receivers to the public.

On April 28, 2000, Rockwell International Corp and its Rockwell Collins unit agreed to acquire Sony Corp's Sony Trans Com ([[Irvine, California]]) for undisclosed terms.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-global-world.html |title=ROCKWELL TO BUY SONY TRANS COM |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2017-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208034632/http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-global-world.html |archive-date=2015-02-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://aviationweek.com/awin/rockwell-collins-acquires-sony-trans-com-0|title=Rockwell Collins Acquires Sony Trans Com|date=1 June 2000|work=Aviation Week|access-date=19 July 2019|editor-last=Rimmer|editor-first=David|url-access=subscription}}</ref>  Sony had purchased the business from [[Sundstrand Corporation]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/0b3960e064a66f9a5c0057fd4525a89a|title=Sundstrand Selling Trans Com Systems To Sony|website=[[Associated Press]]|date=1991-07-10|access-date=2018-08-12|archive-date=2020-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004032750/https://apnews.com/0b3960e064a66f9a5c0057fd4525a89a|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/rockwell-collins-acquires-sony-trans-com-0|title=Rockwell Collins Acquires Sony Trans Com|date=2000-06-01|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref> On December 20, 2000, Rockwell Collins expanded its services to commercial and executive aviation in [[Mercosur]] countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rockwell Collins expands services to Mercosul |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5287e/y5287e0d.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=2013-09-10 |archive-date=2012-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119042349/http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5287e/y5287e0d.htm }}</ref>

The company had acquired several companies, including Hughes-Avicom's in-flight entertainment business (1998), Sony Trans Com (2000), Intertrade Ltd., Flight Dynamics, K Systems, Inc. (Kaiser companies), Communication Solutions, Inc., Airshow, Inc. (2002), NLX (Simulation Business) in 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2003/12/12/rockwell-collins-buys-nlx.aspx|title=Rockwell Collins buys NLX -- Washington Technology|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> portions of [[Evans & Sutherland]], [[Teldix|TELDIX GmbH]], IP Unwired, Anzus Inc. in 2006, Information Technology and Applications Corp in 2007, [[Athena Technologies]], Datapath Inc. (divested in 2014), SEOS Displays Ltd., [[Air Routing International]] in 2010,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rockwellcollins.com/sitecore/content/Data/News/2010_Cal_Yr/RC/FY10RCNR10_April_Rain_acquisition_Complete.aspx | title=Rockwell Collins completes acquisition of Air Routing International | date=4 January 2010}}</ref> Computing Technologies for Aviation (CTA) in 2011,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rockwellcollins.com/sitecore/content/Data/News/2011_Cal_Yr/RCI/RCNR11_Ascend_flight_information_solutions_offering.aspx | title=Rockwell Collins expands Ascend™ flight information solutions offering with acquisition of CTA | date=10 January 2011}}</ref> [[ARINC]] in 2014,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rockwellcollins.com/sitecore/content/Data/News/2013_Cal_Yr/RC/FY14RCNR13-ARINC-close.aspx | title=Rockwell Collins completes acquisition of ARINC Incorporated | date=23 December 2014}}</ref> and [[B/E Aerospace|BE Aerospace]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Data/News/2017-Cal-Yr/RC/FY17RCNR25-BEAV-Close.aspx | title=Rockwell Collins completes acquisition of B/E Aerospace | date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

The company was among the major suppliers of [[in-flight entertainment]] (IFE).  Rockwell Collins' key competitors in this industry included [[Panasonic Avionics Corporation]], [[Thales Group]], and [[JetBlue]]'s IFE subsidiary [[LiveTV]], which was later purchased by Thales in 2014 for $400 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thales Group to acquire LiveTV|date= 13 March 2014|url= https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/aerospace/press-release/thales-acquire-livetv-market-leader-tv-and-broadband-connectivity|publisher=Thales Avionics Inc|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

In 2010, the company employed over 20,000 people<ref>{{cite web|title=Rockwell Collins Inc|url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/Rockwell_Collins_Inc/rfyjsyi-1-1njdap.html|publisher=Hoover's Inc|access-date=2011-10-18}}</ref> and had an annual turnover of  [[US dollar|US$]]4.665 billion. Its nonexecutive chairman was Anthony Carbone following the retirement of [[Clayton M. Jones]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rockwellcollins.com/sitecore/content/Data/News/2014_Cal_Year/RC/FY14RC-NR-39-Chairman.aspx | title=Clay Jones to retire from Rockwell Collins Board of Directors on July 31 | date=30 June 2014}}</ref>
In September 2012, [[Robert Ortberg|Kelly Ortberg]] was appointed as president of the company.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://in.reuters.com/article/rockwellcollins-president-idINL1E8KOI4B20120924 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306233626/http://in.reuters.com/article/rockwellcollins-president-idINL1E8KOI4B20120924 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | work=Reuters | title=Rockwell Collins appoints Ortberg as president | date=24 September 2012}}</ref>  In August 2013, Kelly Ortberg was appointed CEO of Rockwell Collins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockwellcollins.com/Data/News/2013%20Cal%20Yr/RC/FY13RCNR34-Ortberg.aspx|title=Kelly Ortberg appointed CEO of Rockwell Collins|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref>

====Acquisition by United Technologies====
On September 4, 2017, [[United Technologies]] of [[Farmington, Connecticut]], agreed to acquire the company for $30 billion.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-technologies-to-acquire-rockwell-collins-for-30-billion-300513597.html | title=United Technologies To Acquire Rockwell Collins For $30 Billion | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=September 4, 2017}}</ref> The transaction closed on November 26, 2018.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-technologies-announces-intention-to-separate-into-three-independent-companies-completes-acquisition-of-rockwell-collins-300755507.html | title=United Technologies Announces Intention to Separate Into Three Independent Companies; Completes Acquisition of Rockwell Collins | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>

== Past products ==

=== Broadcast transmitters ===

Starting in the mid-1930s, the Collins Radio Company constructed and sold [[transmitters]] and audio mixing consoles to the [[Broadcasting|broadcast]] industry.

In 1939, the model 12 Speech Input Console, in addition to the 26C limiter amplifier, was licensed to Canadian Marconi Co. for both sales in Canada and His Majesty's Service for the war effort.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}  Collins' success in constructing broadcast transmitters continued to grow, selling well over a thousand up to the start of World War II.  During [[World War II]], Collins' expertise grew in high-power transmitters, producing designs that ran well over 15 kilowatts (kW) of RF power on a continuous basis.  After the war, some AM transmitters were produced, called the 300G, and remain the finest in low-power AM transmitters (300W) ever produced.

Collins remained an important manufacturer of AM and FM broadcast radio transmitters for the commercial market surviving the drastic cost-cutting market of the 1960s and 1970s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}  The transmitter line was later sold to [[Continental Electronics]], which continued to produce a number of Collins designs under its own nameplate before phasing them out in the 1980s.

=== Shortwave transmitters ===
Collins produced several shortwave transmitters to the commercial market.  A "30" Series production catered to the growing need of state highway patrol agencies and Department of Commerce aviation needs. During World War II, Collins produced high-power transmitters for aircraft, notably the [[ART-13]] equipped with automatic tuning circuits, which represented an important enhancement for airborne radio communications.<ref name="Helfrick2004">{{cite book | first1 = Albert D. | last1 = Helfrick | chapter = Chapter 3. Coming of Age {{mdash}} The Development of Air Travel | chapter-url =https://archive.org/details/electronicsinevo0000helf/page/49 | chapter-url-access = registration | title = Electronics In The Evolution Of Flight| url = https://archive.org/details/electronicsinevo0000helf | url-access = registration | date = 2004 | publisher = [[Texas A&M University Press]] | isbn = 978-1585443345 | lccn = 2004007214 | oclc = 1585444138 | ol = 8816834M | via = [[Internet Archive]] | df = dmy-all }}</ref>{{rp|pages=[https://archive.org/details/electronicsinevo0000helf/page/60/mode/1up 60-61]}}

After World War II, Collins supported both broadcast and the growing postwar amateur radio market. The [[United States Coast Guard Cutter]] [[USCGC Courier (WAGR-410)|USCGC ''Courier'']] was employed as seagoing relay station for [[Voice of America]] programming using two [[Collins 207B-1 Transmitter|Collins 207B-1 transmitters]].<ref name = uscgweb>U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Courier. United States Coast Guard. 2010-06-04. URL:http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Courier_WAGR410_Photos.asp. Accessed: 2010-06-04. (Archived by WebCite at)</ref><ref name="MRM">{{cite web|url=http://www.modestoradiomuseum.org/voa%20courier.html|title=Voice of America Broadcasts From Coast Guard Cutter|publisher=Modesto Radio Museum|access-date=16 November 2010}}</ref>
 
[[Amateur radio]] transmitters included the 32V-1, -2, and -3, the KWS-1, and the rack-mounted KW-1.<ref>{{cite web | last1 = Sullivan | first1 = Robert A. | date = 2022-08-09 | title = Collins KW-1 Registry | url = http://www.isquare.com/personal_pages/kw1-list.htm | website = W0YVA Web Site | language = en-us | access-date = 2022-12-14 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221214171546/http://www.isquare.com/personal_pages/kw1-list.htm | archive-date = 2022-12-14 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Receivers ===

Around 1947, the company introduced their first amateur radio receiver, the 75A-1 (called the 75A).  This set achieved excellent stability for the time due to high build quality and the use of a permeability tuned oscillator  in its second conversion stage.  It was one of the few double-conversion [[superheterodyne]]s on the market, and covered only the amateur bands.

With the experience gained in the design of the 75A-1, Collins released the 51J-1 receiver, a general-coverage HF set covering {{frequency|500|kHz}}{{nbsp}}to{{nbsp}}{{frequency|30|MHz}}.  It was produced in somewhat updated versions (51J-2, 51J-3, 51J-4) for about a decade. It was known as the R-388 and was used in multiple receiver diversity [[radioteletype]] installations.

The 75A amateur line was updated throughout the early {{decade|1950}}, finishing with the [[75A-4 and KWS-1|75A-4]], which was released in 1955.  The Collins mechanical filter was introduced to consumers in the 75A-3, and the 75A-4 was one of the first receivers marketed specifically as a [[single sideband]] receiver.  
[[Image:R390A.png|thumb|right|200px|Collins [[R-390A]] radio receiver]]
Around 1950, Collins began designing the R-390 ({{frequency|500|kHz}}{{nbsp}}{{mdash}}{{nbsp}}{{frequency|30|MHz}}) for the US military.  This was intended to be a receiver of the highest performance available, with the ruggedness and serviceability required for military duty. It featured direct mechanical digital frequency readout.  The set is composed of several modules for easy field repair—a bad module could simply be swapped out and repaired later, or junked.  Sets built during the original 1951 contract cost the government about {{US$|2500}} ({{Inflation|US|2500|1951|fmt=eq}}) each, and around 16,000 were produced.

Concurrently, Collins developed the R-389, a long-wave version with fewer than 1,000 made. The R-391, another variant of the R-390, allowed choice of eight different autotuned channels.

Three years later, Collins delivered the [[R-390A]]<ref name="Rippel">{{cite web|last1=Rippel|first1=Chuck| date = 2001-12-24 |title=The R390A home on the WWW |url=http://www.r390a.com/html/history.htm| website=The R390A/URR| access-date = 2022-12-10 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011719/http://www.r390a.com/html/history.htm |archive-date = 2007-09-27 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> to the military. About 54,000 were produced and the set was a military workhorse until the {{decade|1970}}.  Like the R-390, it can outperform many modern radios, to the point that it was designated [[Classified information#Top_Secret_(TS)|top secret]] until the late {{decade|1960}}.

In 1958, Collins replaced the 75A series with the much smaller 75S series, part of the S/Line.  These featured mechanical filters, very accurate frequency readout, and excellent stability.  At the request of the US government, Collins designed the 51S-1 general-coverage set, which was essentially (in intended use) a physically smaller replacement for the 51J series.  It was not intended as a replacement for the higher-performance R-390A, and unlike the R-390A, it was extensively marketed for commercial use.

Collins produced a few high-performance [[Solid state (electronics)|solid-state]] receivers in the {{decade|1970}}, such as the 651S-1.  Like their [[Vacuum tube|tube]] predecessors, these are coveted by collectors today.

=== Transceivers and systems ===

With the introduction of the S/Line in 1958, Collins moved from designing individual products that could be used together, to ones that were designed to integrate and operate together, in various combinations, as a system.  They were the first equipment maker to take this approach.  Collins was also the first to introduce a compact [[High frequency|HF]] [[transceiver]], the KWM-1, the year before.  Together, these two innovations put Collins temporarily ahead of its competition, and set the stage for other manufacturers and the next generation of amateur (and military) HF radio equipment.

The 75S-1 receiver and 32S-1 transmitter, comprising the heart of the S/Line, operated separately or together to transceive.  The units included crystal [[band-pass filter]]s and a new compact  design that provided stable, highly linear tuning across 200&nbsp;kHz [[Frequency range|band segments]].  The S/Line tuning-dial mechanism was unique when introduced.  It used concentric dials and a gear mechanism that provided precise dial resolution, better than 1&nbsp;kHz.

[[File:Collins S3 Line FSc 090326.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Collins S/Line – 516F-2 power supply, 75S-3B receiver, 32S-3 transmitter, 312B-4 console, SM-1 microphone, {{Circa|1969}}]]
Within a few years, Collins had introduced additional S/Line components, including the 30S-1 kilowatt power amplifier, the 30L-1 desktop power amplifier, and the 62S-1 [[transverter]], which provided coverage of the 6-m (50&nbsp;MHz) and 2-m (144&nbsp;MHz) amateur bands.  The KWM-2 transceiver replaced the KWM-1 using many of the S/Line's design features and matching its styling.  Other accessories included speakers, microphones, and control consoles.

Illustrating the uniqueness of their new, smaller units in the market, Collins advertisements in the 1950s and early 1960s emphasized the S/Line's physical styling and size, as often as they did its performance.<ref>WA3KEY Virtual Collins Radio Museum, [http://www.wa3key.com/crads.html “Advertisement Archive”]</ref>

Collins continued to improve the S/Line, first introducing the S-2, then the S-3 units, the 75S-3 (and -3A, -3B and -3C) receiver, and the 32S-3 and -3A transmitters.  The -3A and -3C units were identical to the -3 and -3B units, respectively, except they provided an extra set of [[heterodyne]] oscillator crystals, enabling them to cover extra bands – useful for military, amateur and [[Military Affiliate Radio System|MARS]] operation, where operation just outside the regular amateur bands was necessary.

[[Image:Collins 30L-1 090327.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Collins 30L-1 Amplifier c. 1970]]
Among amateur radio operators, the S/Line established its reputation as perhaps the most solidly engineered equipment available, and the most costly.  As a result, S/Line equipment, and the A-Line and other predecessors, are restored, prized, and operated on the air by collectors today.

Collins continued to produce the S/Line well into the late 1970s, and after its acquisition by Rockwell.

In 1978, with the move to solid-state design, the S/Line came to an end after a two-decade production run.  The KWM-380 transceiver was introduced the next year, a break with the past both in its use of transistors and digital technology, and its styling.  It was Collins' final entry in the amateur radio market until it was discontinued in the mid-1980s.<ref>WA3KEY Virtual Collins Radio Museum, [http://www.wa3key.com/collins.html “Collins Amateur Equipment”]</ref>

=== Computers ===

In the 1960s, the company designed and sold C-System computerized message-switching equipment, built an intranet, and began implementing computer storage of design data for circuit boards and assemblies.  They had a goal of automating all functions from parts ordering and inventory to factory scheduling to generation of maintenance provisioning. With products technically successful and far ahead of their time in many respects, Mr. Collins continued to invest in development at a rate that could not be supported by sales when a downturn occurred, and began to have financial problems.

=== Network Transmission Systems ===

In 1991, Rockwell sold its Richardson, Texas-based Network Transmission Systems division to [[Alcatel-Lucent|Alcatel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alcatel-Lucent Company History|url=http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/about/history|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105165822/http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/about/history|archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New York Times coverage of Rockwell unit sale|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/13/business/company-news-rockwell-to-sell-unit-to-alcatel.html | work=The New York Times | date=13 July 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CGE acquires Rockwell|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Alcatel-SA-company-History.html}}</ref>

== Acquisitions ==

In 2008, Rockwell Collins acquired Athena Technologies for {{US$|107}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|107|2008|r=2}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{Cite news | author = <!--not stated--> | date = 2007-04-07 | url = https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/rockwell-collins-completes-purchase-of-athena-technologies/article_fa1a090d-551f-5ebd-9e0c-701a1e66b14f.html | url-access = subscription | title = Rockwell Collins completes purchase of Athena Technologies | access-date = 2022-12-14 | work = [[Sioux City Journal]] | location = [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]] | agency = [[Associated Press]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170808084829/http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/rockwell-collins-completes-purchase-of-athena-technologies/article_fa1a090d-551f-5ebd-9e0c-701a1e66b14f.html | archive-date = 2017-08-08 | url-status = live | eissn = 2689-5544 | issn =  2689-5536 | oclc = 16755530 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===ARINC Acquisition===
In August 2013, Rockwell Collins announced the agreement to purchase [[ARINC]].  On December 23, 2013, Rockwell Collins announced it had completed its acquisition of ARINC for {{US$|1.4}}{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.4|2013|r=2}}{{nbsp}}billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2013/12/26/rockwell-collins-acquires-arinc-for-1-4-billion/ |title=Rockwell Collins Acquires ARINC for $1.4 Billion |date=26 Dec 2013 |access-date=19 July 2019 |website=Avionics International}}</ref> The purchase of ARINC allowed Rockwell Collins to shift their balance in commercial aviation.

=== B/E Aerospace Acquisition ===
In April 2017, Rockwell Collins entered the [[aircraft cabin]] interiors market through the acquisition of [[B/E Aerospace]] for {{US$|8.3}}{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|8.3|2017|r=2}}{{nbsp}}billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/861361/000094787117000307/ss38796_8k.htm | title=B/E Aerospace Form 8-K | publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] | date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> Based in [[Wellington, Florida]], B/E products included seating, food and beverage preparation and storage equipment, lighting and oxygen systems, and modular galley and lavatory systems for commercial airliners and business jets. B/E benefits from rival [[Zodiac Aerospace]]'s delivery troubles. Retrofit opportunities are provided by its $12 billion installed base. B/E shareholders received 20% of the new Rockwell, which then had $8.1 billion in revenues and $1.9 billion in pretax earnings with nearly 30,000 employees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://aviationweek.com/connected-aerospace/rockwell-collins-buying-be-aerospace-8-billion|title=Rockwell Collins Buying B/E Aerospace For $8 Billion|date=Oct 23, 2016|work=Aviation Week}}</ref>

Rockwell Collins filed for regulatory approval for its intended acquisition of B/E Aerospace, before the [[Philippine Competition Commission]], since the latter has a branch in the Philippines operating a manufacturing plant in Tanauan, Batangas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://phcc.gov.ph/commission-decision-no-04-m-0022017-acquisition-rockwell-collins-inc-aerospace-inc/|title=Commission Decision No. 04-M-002/2017: Acquisition by Rockwell Collins, Inc. of B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Philippine Competition Commission|website=phcc.gov.ph|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-15|archive-date=2017-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316112807/http://phcc.gov.ph/commission-decision-no-04-m-0022017-acquisition-rockwell-collins-inc-aerospace-inc/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As a result of the acquisition, a newly created direct or indirect subsidiary of Rockwell, Quarterback Merger Sub Corp., merged with and into B/E Aerospace, with the latter surviving the merger as a direct or indirect subsidiary of Rockwell Collins.<ref name=":0" />

== Organizational structure ==
Rockwell Collins has five main divisions:
* Commercial Systems (CS)
* Government Systems (GS)
* International and Service Solutions (I&SS)
* Information Management Services (IMS)
* Interior Systems (IS)

The CS division services the commercial airline industry and business aircraft, providing navigation, communication, [[synthetic vision]], other cockpit products such as [[autoland]] [[autopilot]]s, and cabin products such as in-flight entertainment.  The GS division services primarily the US government and military, but also provides some products and services to foreign governments with close ties to the United States.  Notable government-related projects that Rockwell Collins has involvement with are [[Common Avionics Architecture System]] (CAAS), [[Joint Tactical Radio System]] (JTRS), [[Tactical Targeting Network Technology]] (TTNT), [[Defense Advanced GPS Receiver]] (DAGR), and [[Future Combat Systems]]. The I&SS division is an amalgamation of International Business organization, whose responsibility is sales, engineering, and human resources of personnel outside of North America, and Service Solutions, which provides support services such as customer support, simulation and training, and technical publications. I&SS provides a common service to both CS and GS divisions, and its formation was announced on the Rockwell Collins press release web page on February 19, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockwellcollins.com/news/page12280.html|title=Error|website=www.rockwellcollins.com}}</ref>

== Donald R. Beall Advanced Technology Center ==
The Donald R. Beall Advanced Technology Center  is a research and development center within Rockwell Collins that focuses on creating, identifying, and maturing technologies targeted at driving business growth. It maintains a portfolio that balances short-term deliverables focused on core and adjacent markets, with technologies for long-term growth. It has three departments: Advanced Radio Systems, Communications and Navigation Systems, and Embedded Information Systems.

==Collector community==
As with several other brands of [[Vintage amateur radio|vintage radio]] equipment,  an active community of Collins radio enthusiasts exists, with clubs, web sites, and [[Internet forum|on-line discussions]] dedicated to restoring and operating the equipment.  The Collins Collectors Association<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsradio.org/|title=Collinsradio|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> and the Collins Radio Association<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsra.com/|title=Home|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> are two examples of such organizations.

Groups of Collins users also organize meetings, gatherings at [[hamfest]]s, and regularly scheduled on-air discussions called [[Amateur radio net|nets]].
<!-- Probably should create an article about amateur radio nets and their various types -->

==Tax avoidance==
{{see also|tax avoidance}}
In December 2019, [[CNBC]] listed Rockwell Collins along with 91 additional [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] companies that "paid an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less" as a result of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Jesse | last = Pound | title = These 91 companies paid no federal taxes in 2018| work = [[CNBC]] | date = December 16, 2019 | url = https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/16/these-91-fortune-500-companies-didnt-pay-federal-taxes-in-2018.html | access-date = 2020-02-11}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[E. F. Johnson Company]]
* [[Future Air Navigation System]]
* [[Hallicrafters]]
* [[Hammarlund]]
* [[National Radio Company]]
* [[R. L. Drake Company]]
* [[Rockwell Automation]]
* [[Signal/One]]
* [[Vintage amateur radio]]
* [[United Technologies Corporation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Braband, Ken. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Collins/Collins-First-50-Years.pdf The First 50 Years, A History of Collins Radio Company and the Collins Divisions of Rockwell International]'', Stamats Communications, 1983.
* {{cite journal |journal = [[QST]] |date=March 2020 |pages=100–101 |title=The History of Collins Radio |publisher = [[American Radio Relay League]] |issn=0033-4812 |volume=104 |issue=3 |author=Russ Sutton, W3MY}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rockwell Collins}}

*{{Official site|http://www.rockwellcollins.com}}
{{Finance links
| name = Rockwell Collins
| symbol = COL
| sec_cik = COL
| yahoo = COL
| google = COL
}}
* The [http://lib.uiowa.edu/collguides/?MSC0814 Collins Radio Company records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130182854/http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/collguides/?MSC0814 |date=2012-11-30 }} are housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives.
* [http://rockwellcollinsmuseum.org/ Rockwell Collins Museum]
* [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Catalogs/Equipment_Catalogs_Collins.htm Collins equipment catalogs and manuals]
* [http://rockwellcollinsmuseum.org/collins_signal/index_a-z.php ''Collins Signal''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114010818/http://rockwellcollinsmuseum.org/collins_signal/index_a-z.php |date=2018-11-14 }} product bulletin publications
* [http://rockwellcollinsmuseum.org/collins_pulse/index_a-z.php ''Collins Pulse''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508125341/http://rockwellcollinsmuseum.org/collins_pulse/index_a-z.php |date=2019-05-08 }} archived company newsletters

{{Rockwell International}}
{{Collins Aerospace|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Former defense companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in Iowa]]
[[Category:Companies based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1933]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1933]]
[[Category:Amateur radio companies|Collins, Rockwell]]
[[Category:Radio electronics]]
[[Category:Electronic design]]
[[Category:Avionics companies]]
[[Category:1933 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Corporate spin-offs]]