ITT Corporation plans to expand its Panama City, Florida, mine defense business.

In mid-2012, the business will move to a new, 105,000-square-foot building as anchor tenant of a business park near the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

Beginning in 2005 with five employees, the business designs, builds, integrates and supports technology to detect and clear mines from maritime waters. Today, more than 100 professionals work at the mine defense business.  This year, the business has won two multiyear contracts to clear mines for South Korea’s defense forces.

“Mine defense is essential to keeping global trade safe and dependable,” said Vice President and General Manager Rich Sorelle of ITT’s Electronic Systems’ integrated electronic warfare systems business. “A growing number of customers, both in the U.S. and around the world, have chosen ITT technology to protect the shipping lanes from threats to world trade.”

ITT’s mine defense business designs, builds and services integrated mine sweeping systems for the U.S. Navy and allied international navies.  These systems rapidly detect and clear underwater mines.

ITT Electronic Systems provides innovative integrated solutions for the global defense, intelligence, information assurance and commercial aerospace sectors. As a leader in electronic warfare and communications, we leverage our experience and innovation to ensure the success of our customers’ critical missions. Our technology leadership extends into the areas of airborne electronic attack, networked and satellite communications, counter-improvised explosive devices, airspace management, surveillance systems, airborne and shipboard radar, acoustic sensors, advanced composite structures and electronic weapons interfaces.