Goodrich Awarded Production Contract for Submarine Composite Structures

• Lightweight structures will hold acoustic sensors for Spanish Navy's new S-80 submarines

(Charlotte, N.C., December 9, 2009) -- Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) has received a contract from Lockheed Martin's Undersea Systems business to supply lightweight composite structures to host the acoustic sensors on the Spanish Navy's new S-80 diesel-electric submarines. Fabrication and assembly will occur at Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products facility in Jacksonville, Fla. Initial deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter, 2010.

Under the contract, Goodrich will supply three shipsets of cylindrical array sonar support structures and four shipsets of passive ranging and flank array sonar fairings for the submarines. The support structure and composite fairings house and protect the submarine's acoustic sensors, which are used for undersea threat detection and identification. The hydrodynamic shape of Goodrich's lightweight, non-metallic fairings reduces noise and drag for the submarine.


The production contract follows a previous design and development contract between Goodrich and Lockheed Martin. The structures and fairings are part of the S-80's advanced combat system and integrated sensors, which Spanish shipbuilder Navantia contracted Lockheed Martin to develop in 2005.

"This production award is an important step in advancing Goodrich's manufacturing capabilities in the international submarine sector," said Jim Pollock, vice president of Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products team. "Close collaboration between Goodrich and Lockheed Martin from initial concepts through final design have enabled effective integration of our capabilities that met the Spanish Navy's expectations."

Source : Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR)