Feb 18 2008
Goodrich Corporation has decades of experience in supplying products, services and technology to military forces worldwide. The company's diverse defense portfolio includes high tech night vision cameras the size of a fingertip, sensor systems that enable aircrew safety, lightweight composite structures for fighter jets and vehicle health management systems that save millions in maintenance dollars. Defense products comprised approximately 25% of Goodrich annual sales in 2007.
Updates and status on major defense programs include:
F-35 Lightning II: More than a dozen subsystems from Goodrich are readying for the first Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) flight of the F-35B, scheduled for the second quarter, 2008. Major systems specific to the STOVL variant include propulsion system LiftFan components such as an electrothermal ice protection system, a low maintenance drive shaft that transmits full engine power to the LiftFan vane box, and advanced carbon composites in the clutch that engages the LiftFan. Other STOVL-specific subsystems include the three-bearing swivel door uplock, and an advanced titanium landing gear designed for unique STOVL requirements. For all three F-35 variants - STOVL, carrier variant and conventional takeoff/landing, Goodrich supplies a number of systems including the weapons bay door system, landing gear, engine and fuel quantity sensors, and actuation systems.
UH-60 IVHMS: Goodrich Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems (IVHMS) have demonstrated readiness and maintenance benefits to allied forces operating in Iraq. A UH-60 Blackhawk unit operating with the IVHMS set a new record for the most hours flown by a battalion within a 12-month timeframe, and saved more than $45 million in maintenance materials and labor as well as in flight costs. Precise IVHMS data can alert the user to take small corrective actions to prevent future costly maintenance; in addition, it advises of unavoidable future maintenance tasks so the user can plan and minimize operational impact.
Research and Development: Goodrich has initiated development of its next- generation night vision sensor technology for helmet-mounted and micro vehicle applications. The company's proprietary technology detects reflected light at wavelengths that current night vision technology cannot see. The extremely small and lightweight size of the Goodrich system is due to the use of advanced materials and circuitry that allow it to run without cooling.