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Hamilton Sundstrand to provide 4 more systems for the Airbus A400M

PARIS AIR SHOW, France- Europe, Jun 12, 2005

Airbus and EADS CASA have chosen Hamilton Sundstrand to provide four more major systems for the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft.

A subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), Hamilton Sundstrand will supply the Secondary Electrical Power Distribution Center (SEPDC), Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator (THSA), Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and Ram Air Turbine (RAT).

In July 2003, Ratier-Figeac of France, a business unit of Hamilton Sundstrand, was chosen to supply the FH386 eight-bladed propeller system, and Hamilton Sundstrand’s Microtecnica of Italy was selected to supply the propeller control module.

The program value to Hamilton Sundstrand of all these systems under current order quantities exceeds $1 billion, with potential total program value of $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion.

David Hess, president of Hamilton Sundstrand, said, “We are extremely pleased to be awarded this significant role on the A400M as our relationship with Airbus and EADS continues to grow in many of our key product areas."

Airbus Military S.L., a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADS), is leading a multinational consortium to develop the large, four-engine, military transport aircraft. The A400M will first fly in 2008 with deliveries beginning in 2009.

Airbus Military forecasts sales of more than 400 aircraft. Firm orders have been received for 192 aircraft, with orders from Germany, France, Spain, Britain, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg and South Africa.

Development work for the Secondary Electrical Power Distribution Center (SEPDC) will be shared by Hamilton Sundstrand Electric Systems, Rockford, Illinois, and its subsidiary, HS Elektronik Systeme in Nördlingen, Germany.

The SEPDC will provide switching and protection for the aircraft’s approximately 1,000 electrical loads using solid state power controller technology from Nördlingen. In addition, the SEPDC will provide control of up to 15 utility functions. This program will build on the many Hamilton Sundstrand secondary distribution and utility management programs in use or under development for military and commercial aircraft.

The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) emergency power system is contracted with EADS CASA, Madrid, Spain, and will be developed by Hamilton Sundstrand's Electric Systems business. The RAT system will provide 45 kVA of electrical power to critical loads in the event of an all-power-out situation. This RAT application adds to the many systems provided to EADS/Airbus and other commercial and military customers worldwide.

Ratier-Figeac, a long-time Airbus supplier, will provide the Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator (THSA). The entirely fly-by-wire THSA will control the position of the tail plane through the Flight Control Computer. At 1.5 meters in length, it will be one of the largest and most powerful THSAs ever built for a military aircraft. Ratier-Figeac is producing the THSA in collaboration with another Hamilton Sundstrand unit, Microtecnica of Italy.

The APU, to be supplied by Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems of San Diego, Calif., will be a derivative of the highly reliable APS 3200 unit, which is the standard fit APU for the Airbus single-aisle program. The A400M APU, mounted in an upper wing fairing, will provide pneumatic power for starting the main engines and will also provide electric and pneumatic power for operation of aircraft systems and air conditioning when the engines are not running.

The FH386 propeller system will enable the aircraft to cruise at Mach 0.72. Each propeller, with eight composite blades, will be 5.3 meters (17.5 feet) in diameter.

Hamilton Sundstrand employs about 16,000 worldwide. Among the world’s largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated systems solutions for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It is also a major supplier for international space programs.