FORT WAYNE, Ind., 30 August 2005. BAE Systems has received a U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command contract to produce spare electronic control units (ECUs) for the GE T700 engines installed on UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters. The 400 spares are valued at $10.6 million.

The ECU is a computer that processes sensor inputs such as airspeed, pressure, altitude, engine speed, and temperature. It sends signals to servomotors that drive valves that control fuel and air flow. Production of this order will be managed from BAE Systems' Fort Wayne facility.

The contract follows the initial $4.9 million order for 135 spare ECUs, which was completed in September 2004. Delivery completion for the current order is scheduled for March 2009. Future orders could bring the total quantity of ECUs under this contract to 1,200.

BAE Systems has produced ECUs for T700 engines since 1985. The engines, in various configurations, power the entire Black Hawk fleet, as well as SH-60 Seahawks and AH-64 Apaches.

"We are pleased to provide the Army with a cost-effective solution that will help keep the UH-60A fleet flying for many years to come," said Joseph Merchant, program manager for BAE Systems.

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. For more information, see www.baesystems.com.