NEW YORK CITY, 31 May 2005. EDO Corp. has been awarded an $11 million contract for the first production lot of 135 BRU-55 dual-carriage, "smart" bomb racks for the Navy's F/A-18 aircraft.
The contract for the bomb release units (BRU) was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Md. In addition to the production hardware, the contract includes acceptance testing, maintenance documentation, and logistical support.
The contract will extend for approximately 24 months and includes an option for additional production units.
The BRU-55 smart rack incorporates the electronics necessary to interface with "smart weapons," such as the GBU-38 (500-pound JDAM). The BRU-55 enables individual targeting and release of each weapon. And because it doubles the smart-weapon carriage capacity of an F/A-18, it offers the potential for significant operational cost avoidance.
"We consider dual carriage of 500-pound JDAM, a capability that the BRU-55 provides, to be a critical tool for the US Navy in the Global War on Terrorism," said Commander Bill Dooris, the F/A-18 Requirements Officer in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N78).
The BRU-55 will initially be utilized on the F/A-18 A+, C & D models. The Super Hornet (F/A-18 E/F) will be BRU-55 capable upon completion of an integration-and-test effort which is currently underway.
EDO Corp. designs and manufactures a diverse range of products for the defense industry and commercial markets, and provides related engineering and professional services. Major product groups include: defense electronics, communications, aircraft armament, undersea warfare, and integrated composite structures. EDO's advanced systems are at the core of the transformation to lighter, faster, and smarter defense capabilities. For more information, see www.edocorp.com.
