ST. LOUIS, 20 September 2006. Raytheon Company's Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, Calif., has issued a contract valued at $5.5 million to LaBarge Inc. for the continued production of backplane assemblies for the F-22 Raptor, a stealth fighter plane developed for the U.S. Air Force by prime contractor Lockheed Martin.
Used in the F-22's common integrated processor (CIP), the backplane assemblies built at LaBarge route electronic and fiber optic signals for the Mission Avionics suite. Developed as the "brains" of the F-22, the CIP uses fiber optics and high-speed integrated circuit technology to fuse and convert data into a clear, concise picture of the combat situation. The solution not only reduces pilot workload and allows the pilot to focus fully on tactical execution of the assigned mission, but also provides greater situational awareness that enhances F-22 operations and those of other aircraft that fly with the Raptor.
LaBarge expects production on the contract, which will be done at the Company's Joplin, Mo., facility, will begin in January 2007 and continue through spring 2007.
LaBarge has manufactured the backplane assemblies for Raytheon since 2002. Follow-on orders are expected.
