From take off to landing, Curtiss-Wright technologies operate, monitor and control flight systems, weapons deployment, and data analysis for nearly every fighter aircraft program in the sky, as well as the latest unmanned aerial vehicles, while aiding critical intelligence and surveillance needs of our military forces.

Curtiss-Wright technologies operate on-board many of today’s critical military fixed-wing, rotorcraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. Our broad array of components for aerospace defense applications span actuators, position sensors, pilot controls, flight test instrumentation, data concentrators and recorders to name a few. We also use our surface technologies applications to enhance the performance of critical aircraft structural and jet engine components.

A key program that we support is the F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighter Program, where Curtiss-Wright provides actuation equipment for the Ordnance Hoist System and Ordnance Quick Latch System as well as embedded computing and sensor electronics. Another is the P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, designed to provide long-range surveillance and reconnaissance. Our single board computer, data communication, sensors, and graphics and video products enable this aircraft to carry out its mission. In addition, our weapons bay door drive system opens and closes large doors installed on the bottom of the aircraft, allowing the deployment of surveillance devices or weapons during flight.

The ability to collect data effectively through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance contributes to advancing military situational awareness, which leads to enhanced capability, efficiency and safety. UAVs provide this essential information without risking lives. The U.S. Air Force’s Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV whose flight control, sensors, mission operations and navigation are managed by Curtiss-Wright’s Integrated mission and Sensor Management Systems, which essentially act as the brain of the aircraft. The U.S. Navy’s version of the Global Hawk, called the Triton, provides persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to protect the fleet. It also has the capability to detect, track, classify and identify maritime and littoral targets. Curtiss-Wright supports this significant defense platform by supplying the Advanced Mission Management System and the Integrated Mission Management Computer.

On military helicopters, we provide state-of-the-art electronics, including sensors and embedded computing products. In addition, our video management system maximizes the effectiveness of airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions by enabling multiple operators to view, control and record live video and mapping information in helicopters, such as the U.S. Army’s new Lakota light utility helicopter fleet. We maintain a solid presence on several of today’s key helicopter platforms, including the Black Hawk, Apache, Seahawk and Chinook.

In the future, the U.S. Marine Corps will deploy the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter from amphibious platforms to transport personnel and equipment and carry heavy external cargo loads. We expect to have a solid technological presence on this aircraft including transducers that control the main and tail rotors, data concentrator units for monitoring, processing data and controlling various subsystem components, and blade fold technology used to execute the folding or spreading of the main rotor blades, key to the CH-53K’s compatibility for effective shipboard deployment.