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DALLAS, DEC. 5, 2003 - Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. recently completed delivery of its first set of horizontal stabilators to Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Ga., for the F/A-22 Raptor air dominance fighter. Vought and its principal supplier, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Clearfield, Utah, produce the redesigned control surface, which incorporates producibility enhancements that will save $1 million per shipset and reduce aircraft weight by approximately 30 pounds.
Lockheed Martin awarded the horizontal stabilator contract to Vought in July 2002. The $40 million contract includes production and assembly of 85 shipsets through 2007. The stabilator is an evolutionary hybrid control surface that functions as a combined horizontal stabilizer and elevator.
"This shipment represents an important milestone for Vought," said Erich Smith, Vought's vice president of military programs. "It marks the official beginning of our participation on the Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor team."
The F/A-22 Raptor is the world's first stealth air-to-air fighter and the first production aircraft with the ability to supercruise - flying at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners. The Raptor will replace the U.S. Air Force's venerable fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters.
In other military programs, Vought is a major subcontractor on the C-17 Globemaster III transport, the Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle, the V-22 Osprey and the C-130J Hercules transport. The company also produces components for the F-14, F-15, F/A-18E/F, F-35. E-8C, S-3A, E-2C, EA-6B and T-38.
About Vought:
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (www.voughtaircraft.com) is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales of approximately $1.2 billion and more than 6,000 employees in seven U.S. locations.
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