ULTRA ELECTRONICS has received its first major order from the US Government, covering the supply of HiPPAG 320 systems and support equipment for US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers. The contract is valued at $5.7 million.
The HiPPAG 320 is an electronically controlled air-compressor and purification unit which supplies high-pressure gas to cool the infra red seeker of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, replacing a rechargeable gas bottle located in the missile launcher.
The system has also been qualified for use on the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet, Grumman F-14 Tomcat and Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter. "It is anticipated that this will open a large export market to other users of these aircraft worldwide," says Ultra.
Ultra has also secured a $26.4 million contract to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) with over 7,000 Command Active, Multibeam Sonobuoys (CAMBS) over a four-year period from April 1997. The buoys will be deployed from British Aerospace Nimrods and EH Industries EH101 Merlin helicopters for the detection and localisation of submarines.
The MoD contract is for type SSQ963C CAMBS sonobuoys, which can be launched from aircraft at various airspeeds and altitudes, be operated at a range of pre-selected depths and communicate directly with the airborne platform to provide the range and bearing of submarine targets.
Source: Flight International
