Curtiss-Wright (Penny + Giles) Wins $5 Million Defense Contract from Bell Helicopter to Upgrade U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft
Date: Monday 15th December 2003
11-year Contract Includes Air Data Computers and Primary Flight Control Sensors
GASTONIA, N.C., Dec. 15 2003 - Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc., through its subsidiary, Penny & Giles Aerospace Ltd., has been awarded a new defense contract by Bell Helicopter to upgrade all United States Marine Corps H-1 helicopters.
If all options are exercised, the contract will be worth approximately $5 million over an 11-year-period. Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. is the motion control business segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW; CW.B).
The contracts are for Penny & Giles´ proprietary Software Configurable Air Data Computers and the company´s Linear Variable Differential Transformers. The Penny & Giles equipment will be used to upgrade the UH1Y (Huey) and AH1Z (Cobra) helicopters.
Penny & Giles´ Air Data Computer was chosen because its flexible software can be adapted to support 15 different aircraft types and roles. The linear transducers, which provide highly accurate and repeatable position sensing, will serve as the primary flight control sensors for each aircraft.
Militaries around the world continue to depend on the Huey, a proven workhorse that is used to execute combat assaults, transport soldiers and evacuate the wounded, along with other critical helicopter missions. More than 16,000 Hueys have been produced, operating in challenging environments that range from the rugged mountains of Bosnia to the frozen vastness of Antarctica.
The AH-1Z is the most capable and flexible multi-mission attack helicopter in the world. It is powerful, fast and agile, and has state-of-the-art dynamics, weapons and avionics suites that incorporate the latest survivability equipment available. The AH-1Z has excellent anti-armor capability and excels at the full spectrum of attack helicopter missions.
Penny & Giles has also recently been selected to supply its proprietary Software Configurable Air Data Computers for up to 1,600 aircraft on the United States Army´s CH-47 Chinook, UH60 Black Hawks and MH6 Little Birds helicopters.
"The ability to use the air data computer across multiple platforms increases the unit´s flexibility and supportability for our customers," says George Yohrling, President of Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. "The selection of our sensors is also gratifying as it gives our aerospace sector greater content on these important helicopter platforms."
About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
Headquartered in Gastonia, North Carolina, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the motion control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW, CW.B). With manufacturing facilities in Gastonia, Shelby and around the world, Curtiss- Wright Controls is a leading technology-based organization providing niche motion control products, subsystems and services internationally. For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.
About Penny & Giles Aerospace Ltd.
For more than 40 years, Penny & Giles Aerospace has developed, manufactured and delivered innovative, quality solutions for the aviation industry. With service centers in the United States and Singapore, Penny & Giles products are used worldwide in many different applications, including helicopters, fast jets, business jets, and commercial and military aircraft. Penny & Giles products include Air Data Computers, Ground-based Air Data Test Systems, Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders, Quick Access Recorders, and Snow and Ice Detection Systems. Penny & Giles is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, and is part of the company´s motion control business segment.
About Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW, CW.B) is a diversified company headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey. The Company designs, manufactures and overhauls products for motion control and flow control applications and additionally is a provider of metal treatment services. The firm employs approximately 4,300 people. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
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Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a reduction in anticipated orders; an economic downturn; changes in the competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements; a change in government spending; an inability to perform customer contracts at anticipated cost levels; and other factors that generally affect the business of aerospace, defense contracting, marine, and industrial companies. Please refer to the Company´s current SEC filings under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for further information.
