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DALLAS, SEPT. 30, 2002 -- Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced today that it has been selected by Northrop Grumman Corp. to build an enhanced wing for the Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV). Work begins immediately and includes design development, fabrication, assembly and structural testing of the new wing configuration.
Vought employees in Dallas will produce two enhanced prototype wings under this contract, which includes options for future production lots of the new wing configuration. ATK (Alliant Techsystems, NYSE: ATK) will team with Vought, providing composite parts. Delivery of the first two prototype wings is scheduled for 2004. Follow-on production contracts would continue
through 2010.
"Well ahead of its planned operational debut, the Global Hawk program has played a pivotal role in Operation Enduring Freedom," said Carl O. Johnson, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Vice President and Global Hawk Program Manager. "The enhancements being made for the Global Hawk wing and the efforts that Vought and ATK will make in its design and fabrication will ensure that Global Hawk system maintains its leadership position in the continuing transformation of our military forces."
In addition, Northrop Grumman has authorized Vought to build three more Global Hawk wings under its Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract. This brings Vought's orders to five current configuration wings, to be produced through 2003, with options for six more wing sets in 2004. Vought delivered two Global Hawk wing sets under its initial contract with Northrop Grumman. The first was delivered in March 2001 (UAV #6); the second in December 2001 (UAV #7).
"We're honored to receive this additional work from Northrop Grumman," said Erich Smith, Vought vice president of military programs. "This is a long-term vote of confidence in our ability as a key supplier on the Global Hawk program. It's rewarding for us to be a part of such an important military program."
The U.S. Air Force RQ-4A Global Hawk performs autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The air vehicle's range and over 30 hours of endurance permits worldwide operation of the system. High-resolution sensors, which can look through adverse weather day or night from an altitude of 65,000 feet, can conduct surveillance over an area the size of Illinois for a period of 24 hours.
In December 2001, Global Hawk began flying missions, playing a key role in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Global Hawk's data provides commanders with a better picture of the battlefield.
At 2,980 pounds and 116 feet long, the Global Hawk wing is the longest ever delivered from Vought's Dallas facility. The company also produces the wing for the Gulfstream V and V-SP ultra-long range business jet and was recently selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. to manufacture new wings for the P-3 Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. is the world's largest independent supplier of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company provides wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles, thrust reversers and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has more than 5,000 employees and annual sales exceeding $1 billion. It has operations in Dallas; Hawthorne, Calif.; Stuart, Fla.; and Milledgeville, Ga. |
