Boeing

Boeing today announced it has reached agreement with British Aerospace -- prime contractor for the $3 billion United Kingdom Nimrod Maritime Patrol upgrade program -- on a subcontract for the Tactical Command System (TCS).

The contract, valued at a minimum of $639 million, calls for Boeing to supply both mission hardware and software to upgrade 21 Nimrod MR2 aircraft. The Boeing work will be part of a larger upgrade effort by prime contractor British Aerospace that also will include new wings, engines, general systems and flight avionics. This fixed price contract includes development, production, post-delivery support and full training capability.

The first operational Nimrod 2000 aircraft -- the name of the British Aerospace-Boeing solution -- will be delivered in 2001, with the last aircraft delivered five years later. Boeing will provide post-delivery support under the initial contract through 2008.

The Boeing developed TCS combines high-speed data processing, high-color resolution displays and software-configurable controls to process and display data from several types of sensors, also provided by Boeing. These include an advanced surveillance radar, electronic support measures, acoustic surveillance systems, electro-optics and a magnetic anomaly detector. In addition, TCS integrates and controls data from self-defense, communications and armament control systems. It also enhances mission completion success by reducing operator workload and promoting crew coordination with reconfigurable workstations.

"The win reinforces our position as a leader in the maritime patrol community and reaffirms our long-term commitment to the United Kingdom," said John Dempster, Boeing Defense & Space Group vice president and general manager of the Information & Electronic Systems Division.

"The collaboration with BAe and Boeing enhances the technology bases of both countries and we see significant world-wide export potential for both replacement airframes and modern mission avionics."

As part of the contract, Boeing has agreed to a 100-percent offset commitment to the United Kingdom over the next 10 years, with the majority of the work performed at British Aerospace's facility in Warton, England. Approximately 100 families from Seattle will move to England over the next year, and will be complemented by an equal number of engineers and other personnel from the United Kingdom.

"The challenge of moving 100 families (approximately 250 people, including children and spouses) to another country to execute a program of this size is a first for Boeing Defense & Space Group," said Patrick Gill, Boeing Nimrod 2000 program manager. "We have been welcomed by the local community, and are continuing to build on the teamwork with British Aerospace we've developed during the past three years of competition for this work."