GERMANTOWN, Md., Jan. 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Smiths Aerospace (LSE:SMIN) announces the delivery of industry's first Mission Systems avionics for installation in the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, Texas, received the Tactical Data Equipment avionics from Smiths in preparation for the F-35's first flight scheduled in September 2006. The installed avionics system is worth more than $150 million over the life of the program, with Smiths total content on the F-35 valued at more than $10 billion over the life of the aircraft.
The tactical data equipment avionics provides the aircraft mass memory and file system on the F-35 and is used for mission planning, airborne mission and aircraft performance recording, and mission and aircraft health debrief. The equipment features several high speed serial data busses to accept and transmit data and incorporates numerous attributes allowing for significant future system capability growth. More than 4,500 aircraft are projected for the F-35 market, with 2,593 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. An additional 2,000 to 3,000 aircraft are expected to be sold for export.
Smiths systems on the F-35 are valued at more than $10 billion over the aircraft lifetime including:
-- standby flight display system, electrical power management
system, remote input / output data concentrator units (Cheltenham
UK)
-- weapons control and data management (Michigan, Maryland and
Florida)
-- engine and debris monitoring system and airframe strain and
stress models (Southampton UK)
-- LiftFan(tm) hose and tube system (New Hampshire and
Massachusetts)
-- integrated canopy frame assembly (Southampton UK)
-- actuation systems and components included in the propulsion
system and airframe (New Jersey, Indiana, Washington and
Wolverhampton UK)
About Smiths: Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, is the leading transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than 10,000 staff and nearly $2 billion revenues split between Europe and North America. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and are world-leaders in electronic and mechanical systems, precision components and customer services. www.smiths-aerospace.com