13 June 2005

"We are pleased to add our actuation technology to the F-35," commented Dr. John Ferrie, President, Smiths Aerospace. "Our electrical power distribution system and remote input/output units are now being delivered for the first aircraft."

The Horizontal Tail Centering Actuation unit will be used to position the horizontal tail surface of the F-35 CTOL and CV aircraft variants in support of the horizontal tail's primary flight control system. The actuator mode is controlled by the aircraft VMC (Vehicle Management Computer). Commands to the actuator will be from the VMC via the aircraft's remote input/output (RIO) units, also supplied by Smiths.

More than 4,500 aircraft are projected for the F-35 market, with 2,593 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. An additional 2,000 to 3,000 aircraft are expected to be sold for export.

Smiths systems on the F-35 are valued at about $10 billion over the aircraft lifetime including spares:

• standby flight display system, electrical power management system, remote input / output data concentrator units (Cheltenham UK)

• weapons control and data management (Michigan, Maryland and Florida)

• engine & debris monitoring system and airframe strain & stress models (Southampton UK)

• LiftFanT hose and tube system (New Hampshire and Massachusetts)

• integrated canopy frame assembly (Southampton UK)

• actuation systems and components included in the propulsion system and airframe (California, New Jersey, Indiana, Washington and Wolverhampton UK)

About Smiths: Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company, with more than 10,000 employees and $2 billion revenues worldwide. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and are world-leaders in digital computing, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and Systems Customer Services. www.geaviationsystems.com