Military

BAE SYSTEMS wins Atflir F/A-18 contract

23 Jul 2002

BAE Systems has been awarded orders to the value of 8 million, to provide systems and components for Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infra Red (ATFLIR) pods for the US Navy's F/A-18 aircraft. BAE Systems Avionics is a member of the Raytheon Team which recently delivered the first production standard pod to the US Navy via Boeing, following a successful design and development programme.

These orders are for the low rate initial production phase (LRIP) of the programme, which leads to the provision of an enhanced targeting capability to the US Navy and US Marine Corps on their F/A-18 E/F and F/A-18 C/D aircraft.

BAE Systems Avionics at Basildon is responsible for about 25% of the value of the ATFLIR system comprising:

* NavFLIR - Navigation Forward Looking Infra Red
* Laser Spot Tracker
* Pod Adaptor Unit
* Pod Electronics Housing
* Roll Drive Units

These components and sub-systems have been developed over the past five years in close collaboration with the system prime contractor, Raytheon.

The US Navy and Marine Corps are due to receive 574 pods with spares, to equip their F/A-18 E/F and F/A-18 C/D aircraft. The initial production pods will be used for technical and operational evaluation and eventually for forward deployment within the next year. Operational evaluation on the ATFLIR is scheduled for October 2002. Initial operational capability for the US Navy is planned for 2003.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is a systems company, innovating for a safer world. BAE Systems employs nearly 100,000 people including Joint Ventures, and has annual sales of around 13 billion. The company offers a global capability in air, land, sea and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products. BAE Systems is dedicated to making the intelligent connections needed to deliver innovative solutions.

BAE Systems Avionics at Basildon is a world leader in the design and manufacture of Navigational Forward Looking Infra Red equipment. Using state-of-the-art technologies including the latest generation of high-performance staring array thermal imagers, BAE Systems have successfully produced, in collaboration with Raytheon, a world-beating Advanced Targeting System which has already attracted interest from a number of international customers, as well as the US Navy and Marine Corps