Lockheed Martin has strengthened the team bidding for the USAF's PRV competition by signing a teaming agreement with ITT Industries. Under the terms of the agreement ITT will provide critical mission systems equipment for the US101 helicopter and help define the spiral growth of systems during the lifetime of the PRV programme.

"ITT's long-standing experience will provide critical technologies essential to the air force's PRV mission," says Steve Ramsey, Helicopter Systems executive vice-president at Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for Team US101.

ITT Industries is "pleased to be supporting the PRV initiative," says Chris Bernhardt, avionics division president. "Our central mission is putting technologies to work, supporting and protecting our warfighters when they are called into harm's way."

The ITT Industries agreement follows hard on the heels of an agreement between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems division.

"Northrop Grumman is honoured to bring its proven expertise to this effort," says James Cameron, vice-president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Defensive Systems. "It has been our privilege for decades to protect our warfighters worldwide, and our proud heritage coupled with our overriding desire to be the best in the world at what we do will serve the United States Air Force and the PRV programme well."

Source: Flight Daily News