Signs with Boeing To Supply F/A-18E/F Components

Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. has been awarded a new defense contract by The Boeing Company to supply components for the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. Curtiss-Wright Controls is the Motion Control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

The contract is for Curtiss-Wright Controls' proprietary actuator, which is used to open and close the aircraft's canopy. The contract is valued at up to $7.2 million over a five-year-period at current projected aircraft production levels.

Curtiss-Wright Controls' Engineered Systems group, based in Gastonia, NC, will manufacture the components at the company's facility in Shelby, NC. The company's proprietary canopy actuator was chosen for its unique, low-weight, low-cost design, which will enable some commonality of parts for both the "E" and "F" version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Development work has begun on the program and product shipments, which include both original equipment and spares, are expected to begin in 2005. 

The combat-proven Super Hornet is a single- and dual-seat, twin-engine multi-mission tactical aircraft. Today, the Super Hornet is in service with the US Navy. Boeing leads the nationwide industry team that builds the Super Hornet.

In addition to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Curtiss-Wright supplies content on a number of military and commercial aerospace programs through its Motion Control segment.

"The ability of our Engineered Systems group to provide highly integrated subsystems and components that can be used across various platforms is a great advantage for our customers," said George J. Yohrling, President of Curtiss-Wright Controls.

FMI: www.cwcontrols.com