Kaman wins $85 million U.S. Air Force Joint Programmable Fuze order supporting military aircraft

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. Kaman Corp.’s (NYSE:KAMN) Aerospace segment won an $85 million order for Joint Programmable Fuzes (JPF) for the U.S. Air Force and 18 foreign militaries. The JPF enables the settings of a weapon to be programmed on wing in flight and is used with several weapons, including general-purpose bombs and guided bombs that use JDAM or Paveway kits, on U.S. aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35, A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, and the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), as well as on international aircraft such as Mirage 3 and Gripen.

Fuzing provides mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronic safe/arm products for general-purpose and penetration bombs, missiles, and rockets.

The JPF is the current bomb fuze of choice of the Air Force. Kaman is the sole source of the Joint Programmable Fuze (FMU-152 A/B) to the U.S. Air Force, and been the sole provider of the JPF to the Air Force since 2002. In addition to the USAF, Kaman provides the JPF to 26 other nations.

This award is the first order under Option 13 of Kaman’s JPF contract with the Air Force. Deliveries will occur in 2018 and 2019.

Kaman produces the JPF at facilities in Orlando, Florida, and Middletown, Connecticut. The company’s year-round test facility is equipped with projectile velocity measurement equipment, projectile impact media, high-speed photographic equipment, and lighting for night firing and tests.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the U.S. Air Force and satisfying demand for the JPF, the most highly reliable and operationally flexible bomb fuze in the U.S. Military’s arsenal. The JPF is a strong contributor to the performance of the Aerospace segment, and with this order and the increased demand we have seen worldwide for the JPF, we believe this contribution will continue for many years to come,” says Kaman Aerospace Group President Richard Barnhart.

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; design and supply of aftermarket parts to MRO aerospace markets; K-MAX medium to heavy lift helicopters; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX aircraft. The company is a distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Kaman offers more than four million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Additionally, 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.

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