BAE SYSTEMS2003-01-23 13:05:16
BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED £150M HARRIER UPGRADE CONTRACT
BAE SYSTEMS has been awarded a contract worth over £150 million from the UK MOD for the continuation of the Harrier GR9 sustainment and upgrade programme.
The total value of the programme is expected to exceed £500m through a series of further incremental contracts anticipated over the next two years.
The full GR9 upgrade will give the existing UK GR7 Harriers updated digital systems. Integration and clearance of digital weapons will allow the RAF to hit a wider range of targets harder, at longer range and with less risk to aircrew. This initial upgrade will introduce a baseline aircraft system capability that will allow the aircraft to carry and integrate smart weapons such as Brimstone and precision guided bombs, and support an enhanced integration of legacy weapons such as Maverick and Sidewinder AIM9L.
The programme will also include an upgrade to the two-seater TMk10 training aircraft to TMk12, the equivalent of the GR9 standard.
The systems and software upgrade contract was awarded by MOD's Defence Logistics Organisation to BAE SYSTEMS Customer Solutions & Support business of which Military Air Solutions and Support (MASS) is the managing business unit. The engineering design team is based at Farnborough, Hampshire and the flight test and development trials team is based at Warton, Lancashire. Fleet embodiment (carrying out the aircraft modifications) will be subject to further contract awards.
‘This contract sets in place a robust Harrier upgrade programme and underlines the continuing importance of support and upgrade work for BAE SYSTEMS,' said Kevin Taylor, managing director for MASS. ‘This contract is very much core business to us, and it provides us with the potential to grow the business through the Future Integrated Support Team (FIST) activities that are currently being developed with the customer'.
BAE SYSTEMS has been awarded a contract worth over £150 million from the UK MOD for the continuation of the Harrier GR9 sustainment and upgrade programme.
The total value of the programme is expected to exceed £500m through a series of further incremental contracts anticipated over the next two years.
The full GR9 upgrade will give the existing UK GR7 Harriers updated digital systems. Integration and clearance of digital weapons will allow the RAF to hit a wider range of targets harder, at longer range and with less risk to aircrew. This initial upgrade will introduce a baseline aircraft system capability that will allow the aircraft to carry and integrate smart weapons such as Brimstone and precision guided bombs, and support an enhanced integration of legacy weapons such as Maverick and Sidewinder AIM9L.
The programme will also include an upgrade to the two-seater TMk10 training aircraft to TMk12, the equivalent of the GR9 standard.
The systems and software upgrade contract was awarded by MOD's Defence Logistics Organisation to BAE SYSTEMS Customer Solutions & Support business of which Military Air Solutions and Support (MASS) is the managing business unit. The engineering design team is based at Farnborough, Hampshire and the flight test and development trials team is based at Warton, Lancashire. Fleet embodiment (carrying out the aircraft modifications) will be subject to further contract awards.
‘This contract sets in place a robust Harrier upgrade programme and underlines the continuing importance of support and upgrade work for BAE SYSTEMS,' said Kevin Taylor, managing director for MASS. ‘This contract is very much core business to us, and it provides us with the potential to grow the business through the Future Integrated Support Team (FIST) activities that are currently being developed with the customer'.
For more information contact:
Warwick House
Po Box 87
Farnborough Aerospace Centre
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 6YU
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 1252 373232
Fax: + 44 1252 383000