Kaman to deliver $68 million in Joint Programmable Fuze orders for use on military combat aircraft, manned and unmanned
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., 13 May 2015. Kaman Corp.’s (NYSE:KAMN) Aerospace segment won several commercial sale purchase orders for the procurement of Joint Programmable Fuzes (JPF) totaling $68 million. The fuzes are expected to be delivered in 2015 and 2016.
"The reliability and functionality of the JPF cause it to remain in high demand with nations around the world,” says Kaman Aerospace Group President Greg Steiner. “These orders solidify the program for the balance of this year, and with a program backlog that now exceeds $200 million, provide visibility well into 2017."
The JPF allows the settings of a weapon to be programmed on wing in flight and is the current bomb fuze of choice of the U.S. Air Force. The JPF is used with a number of weapons, including general-purpose bombs and guided bombs that use JDAM or Paveway kits on U.S. aircraft such as F-15, F-16, F-22, A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, and the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, also known as a drone), as well as on international aircraft such as Mirage 3 and Gripen.
Kaman has been the sole provider of the JPF to the U.S. Air Force since 2002, and a provider of the JPF to 26 other nations.
Kaman produces the JPF at facilities in Orlando, Florida, and Middletown, Connecticut.
Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military, and general aviation fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft; aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters, and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. Kaman provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair, fluid analysis and motor management.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.