Under the contract, Exelis will produce and deliver the eighth lot of LRIP BRU-67, BRU-68 and LAU-147 systems for the fifth-generation fighter jet. Exelis has already supplied more than 1300 carriage and release systems, spare parts and support for all three variants of the F-35, as well as antenna technology and lightweight composite parts.
“With each production award, we make progress toward ensuring every F-35 is equipped with the lightweight pneumatic carriage and release technology it needs,” said Pete Martin, Vice President and General Manager of the Exelis Electronic Attack and Release Systems business.
“We are firmly committed to supplying these cutting-edge systems to help the aircrews succeed in their missions,” he added.
Production has begun, with the first deliveries planned for April 2016.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all weather stealth multirole fighters undergoing testing and final development. The fifth generation combat aircraft is designed to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions.
The F-35 has three main models: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C carrier-based Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) variant.
Exelis is a leader in positioning and navigation, sensors, air traffic management solutions, image processing and distribution, communications and information systems, and focused on strategic growth in the areas of critical networks, ISR and analytics, electronic warfare and composite aerostructures.
