$6m US Navy order for Ultra Electronics
DEFENCE specialists Ultra Electronics – with plants in Gloucestershire and Staffordshire – has won a major contract to supply the US Navy with a new bomb rack system for its war planes.
Ultra said its Precision Air Systems business, together with Raytheon has been selected by the US Navy to develop and supply the Multi-Purpose Bomb Rack (MPBR) system. Raytheon, as the prime contractor, will supply the bomb racks for which Ultra will provide a major component, its HiPPAG airborne compressor. The system generates the pneumatic energy to release the weapon from the rack and eject it from the aircraft’s slipstream.
The initial contract awarded to Raytheon is for the engineering and manufacturing development phase and its value to Ultra is about $6m. Work under this contract will be completed in 2014. It is planned that low rate initial production will take place in 2014, 2015, and 2016, leading to full rate production commencing in 2017
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Ultra chief executive Douglas Caster said: “It is really good news that Ultra’s HiPPAG compressors are to be used in the US Navy’s MPBR systems. Raytheon is an excellent partner and we are committed to delivering a successful programme.
“This is an excellent example of Ultra delivering its strategies for growth by winning positions on long-term programmes with its specialist capabilities and broadening the Group’s customer base. This win also demonstrates how Ultra continuously improves its range of well proven products and services through a constant drive for innovation.”
