7th Feb 2007 07:01
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC07 February 2007 7 February 2007 Ultra Electronics Holdings plc ("Ultra" or "the Group") EXPANSION OF SONOBUOY JOINT VENTURE Ultra and Sparton Corporation ("Sparton") jointly announce the broadening of thescope of an existing joint venture agreement between their respectivesubsidiaries, Undersea Sensor Systems, Inc. (USSI), and Sparton ElectronicsFlorida, Inc. This joint venture, known as ERAPSCO, is being revised toencompass a broader range of sonobuoy types qualified for use by the US Navy andprocured by most international customers. This does not affect Ultra'spre-existing multi-year agreement with the UK MoD to supply the sonobuoy designsused by the RAF. Sonobuoys are the sensors that are dropped into the ocean from Anti-SubmarineWarfare (ASW) helicopters or aircraft and are used to detect submarinesacoustically. Under this agreement, the companies will achieve operational efficiencies andwill eliminate duplicated development and production engineering efforts. Thiswill allow both Ultra and Sparton to focus on undertaking those activities inthe supply chain to which they add the most value. Customers will consequentlyreceive the most cost effective airborne ASW sensor capability that can beachieved from available budgets and sustained in the long term. Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of Ultra, and David W. Hockenbrocht, ChiefExecutive of Sparton, jointly commented:"We are pleased to have reached this agreement so that USSI and Sparton can workco-operatively. Our two companies will be able to pool their innovative ideasand manufacturing expertise and will be able to support customer ASW missionsmore effectively." - Ends - Enquiries: Ultra Electronics Holdings plc 020 8813 4321Douglas Caster, Chief Executive www.ultra-electronics.comAndy Hamment, Group Marketing Director [email protected] Weber Shandwick Financial 020 7067 0700Susan Ellis / Louise Robson Notes to editors: Ultra Electronics is a group of specialist businesses designing, manufacturingand supporting electronic and electromechanical systems, sub-systems andproducts for defence, security and aerospace applications worldwide. Ultra, which employs 3,000 people in the UK and North America, focuses on highintegrity sensing, control, communication and display systems with an emphasison integrated information technology solutions. The Group concentrates onobtaining a technological edge in niche markets, with many of its products andtechnologies being market leaders in their field. Ultra's products and services are used on aircraft, ships, submarines, armouredvehicles, surveillance systems, airports and transport systems around the world.Ultra also plays an important role in supporting prime contractors byundertaking specialist system and sub-system integration using the combinedexpertise of the Group businesses. Ultra is organised into three divisions as follows: Aircraft & Vehicle Systems including miniature airborne compressors; highintegrity software and systems; aircraft system electronics; aircraft cockpitindicators; aircraft noise and vibration control systems; airframe protectionsystems, armoured vehicle electronic information and control systems; human/computer interface equipment and shared working environment solutions. Information & Power Systems including command and control systems equipment;weapons interfacing electronics; radar tracking; electro optical tracking;surveillance systems; naval data processing and distribution; airport andairline information management systems; ID card systems; naval power conversion;signature management of naval vessels; transit system power conversion andcontrol. Tactical & Sonar Systems including secure tactical line-of-sight radio systems,multiplexers and switches; voice communication systems; tactical data links;cryptographic equipment; active, passive and multi-static sonobuoys; sonobuoyreceivers and processors; distributed surveillance sensor arrays; ship's sonarsystems; acoustic countermeasure systems and ship's torpedo defence systems. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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