Cubic to Supply Instructors to Navy For Super Hornet Maintenance Training.

SAN DIEGO -- The defense segment of Cubic Corporation (AMEX:CUB) has received a contract from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide contractor instructors for the F/A-18 E&F Super Hornet strike fighter maintenance training program. The contract is for 12 months, with work to be performed at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.

Cubic received the $1.6 million award under its Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract from NAVAIR for Fielded Training Systems Support. Cubic is one of seven companies awarded the ID/IQ in 2000, allowing them to compete for approximately $500 million in simulator support work. Cubic's Worldwide Technical Services Division will supply the instructors. Cubic is now in a phase-in period with instruction scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2004.

Harold Carlisle, Cubic program manager for the new maintenance training program, said Cubic currently provides simulator instruction to Navy and Marine Corps aircrews operating every air platform that AIRLANT owns, from F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters to the P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft. The training takes places at seven locations on the East Coast, among them NAS Oceana, and involves 13 different aircraft types including fighters, interceptors and ground support; surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW); in-flight refueling; cargo transport; and helicopters used for attack, ASW and transport.

"Now, in addition to training pilots and aircrews in how to operate the aircraft, we will start teaching maintenance crews," Carlisle said. "We'll be teaching all enlisted personnel in naval aviation involved with the E&F Super Hornet how to maintain the aircraft."

The maintenance instruction will cover flight control systems, landing gear, avionics, fuel systems, powerplant, stores management system, weapons loading, environmental control systems, egress system, airframes, and both structural and hydraulic systems.

The F/A-18 E&F Super Hornet is a Navy strike fighter aircraft optimized to be used in air strikes as well as air-to-air combat. The aircraft is designed to take the place of the A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair and F-14 Tomcat.

Cubic's Worldwide Technical Services Division is part of Cubic Defense Applications (CDA). CDA provides realistic combat training systems for military forces, as well as mission support services for training and exercises, modeling and simulation, force modernization, leadership development, web-based learning solutions, and operations and maintenance services. The group also supplies products and systems for C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) applications, search and rescue avionics and radio communications for military and civil markets. The corporation's other major segment, Cubic Transportation Systems, designs and manufactures automatic fare collection systems for public mass transit authorities. For more information about Cubic, see the company's Web site at www.cubic.com.