EDO Corporation (NYSE: EDO) has been awarded a $54.4 million
contract from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (NYSE: LMT) for
continued production of its LAU-142/A AMRAAM Vertical Ejection
Launcher, or AVEL, for the F-22 Raptor.
This latest order covers production lots 7, 8, and 9, plus spares
and associated engineering. These production lots will bring the total
number of F-22 aircraft to 191, all of which are equipped with the
AVEL.
"EDO's LAU-142A launcher is a mission-critical system that is
essential to this fifth generation fighter's superior air-to-air
engagement capability," said James M. Smith, EDO's chief executive
officer. "We have partnered with Lockheed Martin to negotiate this
long-term contract that will allow for the most efficient engineering
and production, therefore minimizing costs to the government."
EDO's breakthrough design addresses the need to carry and eject
missiles from within concealed weapon bays. The AVEL's rapid ejection
rate minimizes the time the weapon-bay doors are open therefore
maintaining the fighter's stealth characteristics. It also ejects at
the precise angle and velocity needed to optimize missile guidance and
avoid interfering with the aircraft's maneuvers at supersonic speeds.
The AVEL employs a highly reliable pneumatic-ejection system
controlled by the aircraft's stores-management system.
In addition to the F-22 platform, EDO provides weapon-release
systems for many of the leading fighter jets in use today, including
the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18. The company is also developing new systems
for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Navy's P-8A Multi-mission
Maritime Aircraft.
EDO Corporation designs and manufactures a diverse range of
products for aerospace, defense, intelligence, and commercial markets.
Major product groups include: Professional and Engineering Services,
Defense Electronics, Communications, Aircraft Armament Systems,
Undersea Warfare, and Integrated Composite Structures. EDO's advanced
systems are at the core of the transformation to lighter, faster, and
smarter defense capabilities.
With headquarters in New York, EDO Corporation (www.edocorp.com)
employs 4,000 people worldwide. The company was founded in 1925 and
had revenues of $715 million in 2006. Pending shareholder approval,
EDO has reached an agreement to be acquired by ITT Corporation by
early 2008.
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