UTC Aerospace Systems Delivers Sonar Dome Rubber Window to U.S. Navy

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Oct 17, 2013, 08:00 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC Aerospace Systems has delivered its latest sonar dome rubber window produced at its facility in Jacksonville, Fla. to the U.S. Navy, bringing the total to more than 150 delivered. The company's Engineered Polymer Products (EPP) team has been the exclusive supplier of sonar domes for FFG-7, DDG-51 and CG-47 class ships to the U.S. Navy and allied navies for more than 40 years. A sonar dome is an acoustically transparent housing that surrounds the sonar transducer array, which together form the sonar's sensor system. EPP is part of the Aerostructures business of UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

The first rubber sonar domes were shipped by C-5A military transport aircraft from EPP's original site in Akron, Ohio to Virginia. From there, they were barged to the different shipyards building the cruisers and destroyers for the U.S. Navy. EPP's present location in Jacksonville is better positioned to serve the Navy. The facility is less than a quarter mile from a quay wall where deep-draft ships can dock and the massive sonar domes can be loaded onto barges for delivery to the shipyards.

Designed and built to last, EPP's sonar domes are one of the ship's most durable components, with EPP sonar domes on U.S. Navy vessels that are more than 20 years old. EPP has delivered more than 150 sonar domes from its Jacksonville site.

In support of its customers, EPP also provides field services for the installation, inspection, and repair of its sonar domes. With its staff of experienced engineers and technicians, EPP's field service professionals are deployed around the world 365 days a year to ensure reliable quality performance.

"We have a long history of innovation in building quality components that support anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the U.S. Navy's powerful surface fleet," said Marc Duvall, president, Aerostructures. "Our cultural commitment to Continuous Improvement at EPP enables us to focus on delivering optimal value to our customers."

Goodrich Corporation, now UTC Aerospace Systems, pioneered the development of rubber wire-reinforced surface ship sonar domes for anti-submarine surface combatants. The rubber's unique energy absorption and reflection properties enhance the ships' detection capability.

UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

www.utcaerospacesystems.com

SOURCE UTC Aerospace Systems