Smiths Aerospace Awarded $10 Million U.S. Navy PBL Contract for H-60.

WHIPPANY, N.J. -- Smiths Aerospace has been awarded a contract with a potential value of more than $10 million to provide performance-based logistics (PBL) in support of the rotor actuation system on the H-60 aircraft. The work is taking place at Smiths' facility in New Jersey and is expected to be complete in 2008.

"Our objective is to enhance equipment, and therefore aircraft, availability and reduce the customer's cost of ownership," noted Dr. John Ferrie, President, Smiths Aerospace. "An integrated support approach enables us to efficiently manage the supply chain for our customers."

The contract supports the U.S. Navy through Maritime Helicopter Support Company, a joint venture between Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin, who holds a prime contract with the Navy for broader H-60 support. The contract includes support for the rotor actuation systems installed on the MH-60R, MH-60S SH-60B, SH-60F and HH-60H aircraft.

Smiths Aerospace was one of the first aerospace companies to introduce PBL programs in 1997 with a program to support the RAF Hercules SCNS (Self-Contained Navigation System). This was quickly followed by a second RAF support PBL, this time to guarantee the availability of LRU displays for the Tornado GR4. Smiths also has one of the first U.S. Navy PBLs, a 15- year firm fixed price contract signed in 1998, for the Stores Management System (SMS) on the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 and AV-8B aircraft. Under the program Smiths Aerospace manages the inventory for some 350 different spares, along with forecasting requirements, managing unit repairs and transportation and is responsible for managing component obsolescence. This was followed early this year by award of the F/A-18 Stores Management System Upgrade (SMUG) PBL in support of F/A-18s.

About the H-60: The MH-60R/S is designed to support the Navy's Helicopter Master Plan and meet Fleet Combat Support Aircraft mission requirements. The MH-60S is an amalgam of the Sikorsky UH-60L BLACK HAWK helicopter and its Navy variant, the SH-60B SEAHAWK[R] helicopter. MH-60S helicopter missions include Vertical Replenishment, Combat Search and Rescue, Special Warfare Support and Airborne Mine Countermeasures, where it will be outfitted with a variety of systems to further serve the fleet.

Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group, is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than $2 billion revenue and 11,000 employees globally. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. www.smiths-aerospace.com