For the supply of Video System Hardware for U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 18, 2010 – Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. today announced that it has received a contract from American Eurocopter Corporation, an operating unit of EADS North America, to provide its Skyquest Video Management System (VMS) for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Security and Support (S&S) Battalion Mission Equipment Package (MEP). The estimated value of the contract is $20 million based upon projected helicopter production and deliveries over the next five years.
“Curtiss-Wright is pleased to provide EADS North America and American Eurocopter with our advanced aerial surveillance video management system technology,” said David Adams, co-chief operating officer of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. “Our Skyquest VMS system redefines the concept of ‘Eye in the Sky’.”
Curtiss-Wright will provide American Eurocopter with its advanced airborne surveillance system, which is designed, developed and manufactured at the company’s Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing facility in Laindon, East London, UK. The hardware will be shipped to American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Miss. facility where it will integrate the Skyquest VMS system onto the S&S Battalion-configured Lakotas. The contract will continue through 2015. EADS North America has 187 Lakota helicopters on order from the Army, with potential for up to 345 helicopters through 2015.
Each Lakota fitted with the S&S MEP will utilize three multi-function mission displays, a dual-deck digital video recorder and the VMS processor. The Skyquest VMS delivers extensive video capability and flexibility to aircrews across a variety of missions. It provides comprehensive management of video on board the aircraft and enables operators to enhance use of their gyro-stabilized camera system while viewing multiple video sources simultaneously. Skyquest’s surveillance system also provides previously unavailable video switching, recording and transmitting capabilities.
The Skyquest VMS is currently fielded with leading law enforcement and military customers in several countries throughout the world, including UK Ministry of Defense and most UK law enforcement operators. The equipment has proven to be well suited for demanding airborne surveillance missions and reliable in harsh environments.
About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the Motion Control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. With manufacturing facilities around the world, Curtiss-Wright Controls is a leading technology-based organization providing niche motion control products, subsystems and services internationally for the aerospace and defense markets. For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.
About Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) is a diversified company headquartered in Parsippany, NJ. The company designs, manufactures and overhauls products for motion control and flow control applications, and provides a variety of specialized metal treatment services. The firm employs approximately 7,500 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including statements relating to Curtiss-Wright Corporation’s expectations of future performance of our development work, the value of the contract, the continued relationship with an existing customer, the successful implementation and funding of this government program and future opportunities associated with this program, are not considered historical facts and are considered forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. 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 competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements; a change in US and Foreign 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, electronics and industrial companies. Please refer to the Company’s current SEC filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for further information.