PORTLAND, Ore., 20 April 2013. FLIR Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR) in Portland, Ore., won a $22 million order for from the U.S. Air Force for its BRITE Star DP advanced imaging systems, to be employed on Embraer A-29 Super Tucano military aircraft acquired as part of the Light Air Support (LAS) program.
U.S. Air Force officials selected Sierra Nevada Corp. to supply Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for use by the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps and other future customers in a contract issued in Feb. 2013. The aircraft will be used to conduct flight training, aerial reconnaissance, and light air support operations and is a key element of U.S. government partner-building efforts in Afghanistan and other partner nations.
Deliveries under this order are expected to begin in June and continue throughout 2013 and 2014. Production of the BRITE Star DP systems will be performed out of FLIR's facility in Wilsonville, Ore.
"Being selected to provide our highly advanced imaging systems for the LAS program is indicative of the growing diversification of the customers, regions, and platforms that we serve," says Earl Lewis, president and CEO of FLIR. "We have a proven ability to provide state-of-the-art technologies that are critical to protecting people and are pleased to be able to continue our success in the airborne market."
The A-29 Super Tucano will be built in Jacksonville, Fla., by U.S. workers and with parts supplied by U.S. companies. In fact, FLIR is among 100 U.S. suppliers in 20 states that will provide parts or services for the LAS program. At least 1,200 U.S. jobs will be supported through this contract.
More than 88 percent of the Super Tucano is made from parts supplied by U.S. companies, like FLIR, or countries that qualify under the Buy America Act.
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