Exelis to provide sonobuoy launchers, carriage and release systems for P-8A Poseidon aircraft

Exelis has completed negotiations for two production contracts from Boeing Co. to supply sonobuoy launchers and carriage and release systems for the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft.

Exelis will supply systems that will include rotary, single-shot sonobuoy pneumatic launchers and pneumatic carriage and release equipment. The Exelis-designed Sonobuoy Launching System (SLS) is planned to provide aircrews with a high-performance airborne launching capability.

“Unlike conventional launch devices, the Exelis SLS employs compressed air, rather than electro-explosive charges, to deploy payloads,” said Pete Martin, director of defense systems for the Exelis electronic attack & release systems business.

Introduced into service in 2012, the P-8A Poseidon is a modified Boeing 737 airliner designed to engage submarines and surface ships. Deliveries of the Exelis SLS will begin in October 2014 with work being completed at the Exelis facilities in Amityville, N.Y.