Smith Industries is buying the Fairchild Defense division of Orbital Sciences for $100 million, strengthening its aerospace data management business.
Fairchild is a leading US supplier of mission planning and data recording systems for military aircraft, a capability merger-hungry Smiths says will complement its own post-flight data evaluation capabilities, which include voice and data recorders, data transfer equipment and health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS).
Based in Maryland, Fairchild had sales of $76 million last year. Orbital acquired Fairchild Space and Defense in 1994, merging the space business with its satellite manufacturing operation.
Smiths has so far made aerospace acquisitions worth $380 million this year, and is planning a major merger with TI Group.
Source: Flight International
