Integrated Vehicle Health Management Sytem to be incorporated into UH-60M program, deliveries to begin next year

Goodrich Corporation has been selected by Sikorsky to provide the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) for the U.S. Army's UH-60M Blackhawk program. Initial deliveries will begin in 2005. If all options are exercised, the contract is expected to generate in excess of $100 million in revenue over the life of the program. The U.S. Army's aviation modernization plan is to upgrade existing UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft to the UH-60M configuration and purchase new production UH-60M Blackhawks.

The IVHMS is a derivative of Goodrich's Integrated Mechanical Diagnostics - Health and Usage Management (IMD-HUMS) system which has been proven in Iraq with installations on 30 UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The IVHMS monitors the aircraft's engines, transmission and rotors to detect developing problems and includes a cockpit voice flight data recorder and crash survivable memory unit. The technology enables the Army to proactively plan maintenance based on the usage and condition of "life limited" parts within a helicopter's critical systems.

"We are delighted to be selected by Sikorsky to be a part of the Army's newest Blackhawk helicopter program," said JC Williams, Vice President of Government Systems at Goodrich Fuel & Utility Systems. This was a team effort with the Army, Sikorsky and Goodrich, where dedicated people, technology, and experience came together to provide significant readiness improvements and maintenance work load reductions for the Blackhawk fleet."

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (Vt.), who secured congressional funding for the Iraqi deployment of the IMD-HUMS system, expressed his pleasure that the Army and Sikorsky have recognized the benefits this capability brings to the soldiers. "This system is a solid breakthrough that will greatly enhance the readiness and safety of the Army's Blackhawk inventory," said Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense. He added, "I am tremendously proud of the hard work, ingenuity and dedication of so many of Goodrich's employees, especially those in Vermont, who have worked so closely with the Army to ensure that the system meets the service's needs. This award is good news for Goodrich and for Vermont -- it will help the soldiers who depend on safe and reliable helicopters. This also means that Goodrich will be a key partner in the Army's aviation program for decades to come."

Goodrich has system health monitoring products on the V-22, CH-53E, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, MH-60S, SH-60B, UH-60A/L and S-92 aircraft. The IVHMS is based on data driven open architecture and can easily be applied to any other aircraft. The system compiles data from electrical, mechanical and airframe systems into a comprehensive information resource for pilots, maintainers and fleet operators.

FMI: www.goodrich.com