GE Aviation Delivers First X47B Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Landing Gear

Fully dressed production landing gear system ready for first flight
GE Aviation ~ Tuesday October 6, 2009
SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Aviation recently delivered the first fully-dressed landing gear to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC - News) in support of the X-47B Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.
"This delivery is a major step in supporting the Navy UCAS-D program as Northrop Grumman prepares for first flight later this year,” commented Sagar Patel, president of GE Aviation’s Mechanical Systems business. “We are proud of our landing gear team’s performance in achieving this key milestone. This program is a critical first step to provide the U.S. Navy with insight into how an autonomous aircraft might be integrated into future carrier operations. Performing the first-ever carrier launches and recoveries of an unmanned tailless aircraft of this size will be a historic accomplishment.”
The delivery includes production fully-dressed landing gear that is designed to meet and/or exceed all U.S. Navy carrier landing requirements for a fully loaded UCAS-D aircraft.
The X-47B UCAS landing gear system is designed to endure the challenges and rigors of catapult take-offs and arrested landings on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers at sea. GE is responsible for the design, development, qualification and manufacturing of the fully integrated landing gear system. Due to the demanding mission profiles required for this advanced carrier platform, the landing gear system incorporates the latest technology advancements in steering control from Parker Hannifin as well as anti-skid braking systems from Goodrich Corporation. GE Aviation’s combined systems make it the largest non-partner equipment supplier to the X-47B.
John Hahn, site leader for GE Aviation said, “We’ve had outstanding support from Northrop Grumman. Their involvement, along with the combined expertise of GE Aviation teams from Santa Ana and Duarte, CA, Cincinnati, OH and Yakima, WA contributed to the successful execution of this program. We have a genuine team effort within GE and with our customer."
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE - News), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for military and commercial aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
Contact:
For GE Aviation
Jennifer Villarreal
+ 1 616 241 8643
jennifer.villarreal3@ge.com

Aerojet Engines Support NASA's STS-128 Mission to International Space Station

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY - News) company, announced today that its engines will be critical to the success of the STS-128 mission following this evening's launch to the International Space Station. Aerojet engines are used for on-orbit operations, space station reboost and during landing.
On this 13-day mission, the STS-128 crew will deliver needed supplies to the Station and conduct three space walks. Mission Specialist Nicole Stott will also replace STS-127 Mission Specialist Tim Kopra. This is the Shuttle's 30th trip to the Station and the 128th Space Shuttle flight.
Aerojet's Orbital Maneuvering Engines, 38 primary and six Vernier thrusters on each Orbiter, as well as gas generators supporting the Auxiliary Power Units, have flown on every Shuttle mission since its launch inception in 1981. These technologies are critical to the Shuttle's maneuvering abilities, the external tank separation and control of the entry vehicle and de-orbit efforts. "After nearly three decades in partnership with NASA on the Space Shuttle program, Aerojet is once again proud to provide the technology necessary for mission success," said Aerojet's Executive Director of Strategic Communications, Glenn Mahone. Aerojet engines and thrusters are also planned for use on Orion and Ares - the new human space flight programs under development at NASA.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company's excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies' Web sites at http://www.Aerojet.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.