Cubic, Ultra Electronics Deliver $46 million
ASTOR Data Link to U.K.
SAN DIEGO,
Calif. – Aug. 24, 2005 -- Cubic Defense
Applications, the defense segment of Cubic Corporation (AMEX:
CUB) and its United Kingdom partner, Ultra Electronics, recently
delivered the final unit of Cubic’s Airborne Standoff
Radar (ASTOR) Narrowband Data Link System to Raytheon Systems
Ltd., which will integrate the narrowband data link into
ASTOR and deliver fully integrated systems to the United
Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Cubic’s data link is part
of a major new battlefield surveillance platform scheduled
to enter service in 2006.
The
deliveries fulfill the production portion of Cubic’s
$46 million contract with Raytheon Systems Ltd., prime contractor
for ASTOR. The U.K. Ministry of Defence purchased a total
of nine data link systems with spares, and a 10-year service
support commitment for the hardware. The 10-year support
effort begins this year.
Cubic’s
ASTOR Narrowband Data Link System (NDLS) provides secure
and robust broadcast communications
in near
real-time from surveillance aircraft to ground stations and
other military systems. Each NDLS includes both ground data
terminals and air data terminals.
“In addition to being virtually unjammable, the new
ASTOR platform has a level of interoperability with the U.S.
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS),” said
Rick Lober, senior vice president of the Cubic Communications
and Electronics Business Unit. “This will make it easier
for the U.S. and U.K. to conduct joint operations because
it allows the two militaries to share mission-critical intelligence
and reconnaissance information in real time.”
Lober noted that Cubic also developed the Surveillance and
Control Data Link used aboard Joint STARS, which has flown
in Bosnia and in contemporary combat operations.
Cubic
Defense Applications, one of Cubic Corporation’s
two major segments, is a world leader in realistic combat
training systems, mission support services and defense
electronics. The corporation's other major segment, Cubic
Transportation
Systems, designs and manufactures automatic fare collection
systems for public mass transit authorities. For more information
about Cubic, see the company's Web site at www.cubic.com.