Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has announced a teaming agreement with Harvard Custom Manufacturing (HCM), Inc., to support the proposed HH-47 Combat Search and Rescue helicopter program for the U.S. Air Force.

"Boeing is extremely proud of its HH-47 proposal and our team members," said Rick Lemaster, Boeing HH-47 program manager. "Harvard Manufacturing is representative of the quality our suppliers offer, and we are confident their involvement will be a major factor in winning the CSAR-X competition."

CSAR-X is a U.S. Air Force initiative to procure more capable and survivable aircraft able to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory. The tandem rotor, heavy lift, high altitude HH-47 is based on the CH/MH-47 Chinook tandem rotor transport helicopter, with performance capabilities that have been widely demonstrated in the ongoing war on terrorism and in numerous U.S. and international humanitarian relief operations.

"HCM is eager to move forward as a member of Team Chinook and remains confident that the Boeing CH-47 rotorcraft will most effectively fulfill the U.S. Air Force's Combat Search and Rescue mission," said Marc Renick, vice president of HCM's Interconnect Systems Division. "Boeing is going to offer the Air Force a tremendous capability."

HCM, of Salisbury, Md., is manufacturing electronic cables, harnesses and electromechanical assemblies for the HH-47. HCM applications include complex cables and harnesses, mechanical and box build assemblies, avionics and space flight hardware for an array of military and commercial customers. Its electrical assemblies are found in several military aircraft, including the CH-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey, E2-C Hawkeye, EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. Harvard, an International Standards Organization-accredited, Boeing-preferred supplier, has extensive experience in successful program execution and management.