U.S. Army Orders 31 Additional Helicopter Refueling Systems from BAE SYSTEMS.

ONTARIO, Calif. -- The U.S. Army has placed an order with BAE Systems for 31 additional portable combat helicopter refueling systems for a total value of $7.6 million. This order is part of a multi-year contract expected to be worth more than $100 million.

The Advanced Aviation Forward

Area Refueling Systems (AAFARS) are used by U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, principally to fuel AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk, and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. AAFARS systems also are deployed in South Korea and are currently being shipped to Germany. The Army's Tank Automotive and Armament Command (TACOM) is purchasing the refueling systems.

"We are pleased to continue partnering with BAE Systems to equip our helicopter fleet with the most modern refueling capability available in the market," said Mathew Marturano, system acquisition manager of the Army's Force Projection Program Office. "These systems are providing our soldiers with a significant edge in the battlefield."

This is the 10th order in a production run that is expected to total 372 AAFARS systems.

"AAFARS is designated as a critical component of the Army's modernization plan," said Tom Herring, vice president and general manager of Integrated Solutions for BAE Systems. "The system is helicopter-transportable and soldier-portable, and has been field-proven with a setup time of 20 minutes and tear-down time of 30 minutes, meeting the warfighters' needs for rapid deployment."

AAFARS is a modular, lightweight, portable combat refueling system designed for rapid refueling of forward-area military helicopters in support of deep strikes. The system has a 240 gallon-per-minute pump that can fuel four helicopters simultaneously at a rate of 55 gallons per minute each.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defense systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs nearly 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $25 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.