19th Jul 2006 12:04
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC19 July 2006 For immediate release 19 July 2006 Ultra Electronics Holdings plc ("Ultra" or "the Group") ULTRA SELECTED TO PROVIDE DEMONSTRATION OF LOITERING MUNITION CAPABILITY Ultra announces that it has been selected by the Ministry of Defence toundertake a capability demonstration for loitering munitions. In a speech todayat the Farnborough Air Show, Lord Drayson confirmed that Ultra had been chosento lead an international team for this high profile and important programme. A loitering munition is an uninhabited air vehicle fitted with an explosivewarhead. It can be launched and commanded to loiter in a holding pattern for upto six hours. The airborne vehicle has electro-optical sensors and a secure datalink so that it can transmit images back to the ground-based control station.The loitering munition therefore gives the ability to identify targets over thehorizon from the launch point. When a target is identified, the loiteringmunition can be commanded to attack and it will then guide itself in the finalphases of its flight with high precision so as to minimise collateral damage. Under this initial contract, which will be valued at about £14m, Ultra's Sonar &Communication Systems business will lead a team including Rafael, BAE SystemsInsyte, Praxis and Lockheed Martin Stasys. Ultra's team will provide acapability demonstration to the UK MoD utilising its collective and well-provenexpertise of project management, systems integration, weapon systems, C4ISTAR,joint targeting environment and synthetic environments. The main objective of the programme is to examine how loitering munition systemscould be integrated into the British Army infrastructure and into the widernetwork-enabled battlespace. Ultra's team will provide the MoD with a flexiblemethodology for assessing an advanced loitering munition with a network-enabledground infrastructure. Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of Ultra commented:"Ultra, with its teaming partners, will demonstrate to the MoD an innovativecapability in loitering munition systems. For the second time in a week, Ultrais able to announce its selection for a programme that is built on the Group'slong track record of teaming with world-class partners. Ultra will give the UKArmed Forces a low risk, best-of-breed solution and ensure sovereign operationalindependence as required by the UK Defence Industrial 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 0700 Susan 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:
ULE.L