17th Jul 2006 07:00
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC17 July 2006 Embargoed until 0700 17 July 2006 Ultra Electronics Holdings plc ("Ultra" or "the Group") ULTRA WINS £56M CONTRACT TO SUPPLY TARGETING PODS FOR UK EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON AIRCRAFT Ultra announces that its Sonar & Communication Systems business has received acontract worth £56m from the UK Ministry of Defence to supply and supportairborne laser targeting pods for the UK Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Theseadvanced electronic pods, designated Litening, are due to enter service in 2008and Ultra's contract includes in-service support for 20 years. Ultra is teamedwith Rafael, the Litening Pod design authority who will be the principlesubcontractor on the programme. The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft was originally designed to achieve superiorityin air-to-air combat. The addition of the Litening pod is a key element ofproviding Typhoon with an advanced ability to attack targets on the ground withthe speed and precision required by modern warfare. The targeting pod to be provided is the Litening EF (Gen III) which is thelatest version of Rafael's Litening pod. It will provide the Typhoon aircraftwith a vital air-to-ground targeting capability including the ability tolaser-designate a ground target for attack by other assets. This version of the Litening pod also provides a ground reconnaissance andscanning capability, even when the Eurofighter is flying at maximum speed at lowaltitudes and undertaking combat manoeuvres. The pod can store the digitalrecord of the imagery to facilitate post-mission analysis for training purposes. The versatile Litening pod has various additional operating modes includingair-to-air targeting to enhance Eurofighter's traditional air superiority role.The pod is also equipped with third-generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR)sensors, the images from which can be fed into the pilot's Head-Up Display (HUD)to assist low altitude supersonic night flying. Ultra will be providing the UK with a sovereign operational capability forLitening pod. Technology will be transferred from Rafael to Ultra in the UK sothat the equipment can be supported and upgraded as necessary for the next 20years. Ultra will also undertake a specialist role of supporting the securityaccreditation of the pod. Ultra will be providing the RAF with a guaranteedlevel of equipment availability for operations under a Contractor LogisticSupport (CLS) arrangement. Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of Ultra commented:"Ultra, with its teaming partner Rafael, will be providing this exceptionalcapability to the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The addition of precisiontargeting as well as a ground reconnaissance capability will significantlyenhance the operational capability of the Typhoon.This is another example Ultra teaming with a world-class partner to give the UKArmed Forces a best-of-breed solution and, at the same time, to providesovereign operational independence in accordance with the aims of the UK DefenceIndustrial Strategy." - Ends - Enquiries:Ultra Electronics Holdings plc 020 8813 4321Douglas Caster, Chief Executive www.ultra-electronics.comDavid Jeffcoat, Group Finance Director [email protected] Weber Shandwick Square Mile 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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