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BAE SYSTEMS Creates Trans-Atlantic Inertial Products Unit To Serve Growing Military, Commercial Markets

14 Oct 2003

BAE Systems Platform Solutions today announced the creation of an Inertial Products business that combines formerly separate parts of the company that are engaged in the design and manufacture of gyroscopes and inertial measurement systems. The move creates a world-leading developer and producer of inertial devices for a diverse range of control, navigation, and guidance applications including missile systems, fighting vehicles, guided projectiles, and specialty applications such as well-drilling systems and automotive antilock braking systems.

Inertial Products consists of five plant locations in the United States and United Kingdom. BAE Systems entities in Plymouth, U.K., and Wayne, N.J., are combined with three facilities that comprised the former Condor Pacific Industries Inc., which BAE Systems acquired in December 2002. Those facilities are in Cheshire, Connecticut; Westlake Village, California; and Heath, Ohio.

Inertial technology is a perfect complement to our long-time involvement in aircraft control electronics, and combining these assets into a single organisation creates an enterprise of considerable strength and scope, said James Scanlon, Platform Solutions Sector president. By offering such a broad range of products, we will be far better able to serve both our military and commercial customers.

The Platform Solutions Sector develops and produces integrated flight and engine control subsystems and power management and hybrid electric drive systems for large commercial and military vehicles.

Inertial units products include conventional spinning-mass gyros, subminiature multi-axis sensors, and low-cost, lightweight silicon vibrating-structure gyros. These products are used on guided weapon systems such as Longbow Hellfire Hellfire, JASSM, and Javelin; rotary-wing aircraft including the UH-60 Blackhawk and AH-60 Apache; fixed-wing aircraft including the A-10 Thunderbolt and F-16 Fighting Falcon; and fighting vehicles such as the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle. They also are used in automotive stability-enhancement and antilock braking systems.

There is tremendous future potential for application of inertial measurement technology in products ranging from precision munitions to consumer products, said Art Siegel, vice president of BAE Systems Inertial Products. By combining these capabilities in one organisation, we will enhance our ability to serve these new markets.

Inertial Products unit will operate design and program management centres from its facilities in Cheshire, Wayne, Westlake Village, and Plymouth, and manufacturing centres in Cheshire and Plymouth. The Heath facility performs repair and maintenance on inertial sensors in support of U.S. Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

BAE Systems Inertial Products is a unit of the companys U.S.-based Platform Solutions Sector. The Platform Solutions Sector is a leading global supplier of integrated electronic control products, subsystems, and man-machine interface systems for air, space, sea, and ground vehicles. The sector develops and produces electronic vehicle management systems, electronic engine controls, cockpit and helmet displays, power management systems, hybrid electric vehicle drives, and inertial systems for a variety of platforms including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, missiles, ground vehicles, ships, and space launch vehicles. Based in Johnson City, New York, it employs approximately 6,400 people at 12 facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.