CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC Aerospace
Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today
announced that it has been awarded an
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with an
initial ceiling of $22.9 million from
the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for the DB-110 Airborne Reconnaissance
System. The acquisition supports requests for the DB-110
system from multiple countries via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
program. As the single largest acquisition of DB-110 pods
ever procured through FMS, it highlights the growing need for
advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
capabilities among U.S. allies worldwide.
The DB-110 is a dual-band 110-inch focal length reconnaissance
system that is capable of producing high-resolution imagery from
nadir to a stand-off range of 80-plus nautical miles, day or
night. Developed as a derivative of the strategic Senior Year
Electro-optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) sensor on the USAF
U-2, the DB-110 can collect more than 10,000 square miles of
high-resolution imagery per hour and serves as the cornerstone of
many air forces' tactical and strategic ISR capabilities. It is
currently in service with 14 nations on multiple platforms.
"The DB-110 is a transformative system, enabling aircraft like
the F-16 and F-15 to perform high-end ISR missions that previously
were conducted by dedicated strategic platforms," said Mike Don, Director of International
Airborne Programs at UTC Aerospace Systems. "With the DB-110,
an F-16 can be flexibly deployed to conduct peace time cross-border
surveillance from international airspace, or during times of
conflict, quickly transit through contested airspace that may be
inaccessible by UAVs to conduct
time-sensitive tactical-reconnaissance missions. DB-110 is
truly a force-multiplier for fast-jet operators worldwide."
In addition to operations on the F-16 and F-15, the DB-110 is
operational on special mission aircraft like the Bombardier Global
Express and maritime patrol aircraft like the P-3, and was recently
demonstrated on the MQ-9 Reaper.
"Special mission aircraft represent a uniquely effective space
for the DB-110," explained Gavin
Dyer, a senior technical fellow at UTC Aerospace
Systems. "They enable the DB-110 to work in conjunction with
other sensors, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar and signals
intelligence, thereby producing multilayer intelligence products
and a more holistic view of the battlespace."
In addition to procurement of the DB-110 pods, the USAF IDIQ
also includes multiple UTC Aerospace Systems Ground Exploitation
Stations. These systems are deployed worldwide with U.S. and
allied countries to enable the ingest, exploitation, archival and
dissemination of intelligence products from not only the DB-110,
but also Full Motion Video (FMV) gimbals and Non-Traditional ISR
(NTISR) targeting pods. Operating as nodes within a larger
network, the ground stations provide a repository for multiple
intelligence products and a platform to discover and share
information between broad tiers of end users.
"With this award, the U.S. Air Force has recognized the need our
allies have for the advanced ISR capabilities of the DB-110," said
Don. "We are committed to providing worldclass product
sustainment and delivering a robust technology roadmap that will
ensure the DB-110 product line remains relevant to our customers
for years to come."
About UTC Aerospace Systems
UTC Aerospace Systems is
one of the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced
aerospace and defense products. UTC Aerospace Systems designs,
manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the
aerospace and defense industries, supporting a global customer base
with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service
facilities. For more information about the company, visit our
website at www.utcaerospacesystems.com or follow us on Twitter:
@utcaerosystems
About United Technologies Corporation
United
Technologies Corp., based in Farmington,
Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services
to the building and aerospace industries. By combining a passion
for science with precision engineering, the company is creating
smart, sustainable solutions the world needs. For more information
about the company, visit our website at www.utc.com or follow us on
Twitter: @UTC
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