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November 2, 2010 - Raytheon Company has won a contract to upgrade the Center Display Unit (CDU) of U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard F-16 aircraft. The initial contract value is $3.1 million for system integration and pre-production units. The contract includes options for production of up to 120 systems per year for five years. The Raytheon CDU will replace multiple analog flight instrument displays currently used in the F-16 cockpit with a single large-LCD color display. Advanced technology will provide pilots with new capabilities, including the ability to overlay data from both onboard and remote sensors on a digital moving map, video processing, and two-way data-link situational awareness messaging. |
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Raytheon Technical
Services Company LLC (RTSC) will perform engineering and low rate
initial production on the system at its site in
"The CDU will be a
significant advance in providing information F-16 pilots need to conduct
their missions," said RTSC Customized Engineering and Depot Support Vice
President Wayne Iurillo. "Giving them the data they need, when they need
it, will help ensure their effectiveness in the battle zone, their
ability to protect and support ground forces, and their safety while
performing their duties. And that's the ultimate goal." The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
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