Ultra compressors for CF-18

Ultra Electronics’ Precision Air Systems business has won a contract worth more than $8m (£5m) from the US Navy to supply its HiPPAG airborne compressors for Canadian CF-18 aircraft.

The contract is for High Pressure Pure Air Generators (HiPPAGs) and was procured under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to meet a Canadian Air Force requirement to support Sidewinder missiles on CF-18 aircraft.

This latest order brings the total number of HiPPAGs purchased for F-18 aircraft to more than 1,900 systems.

HiPPAG is a miniature compressor system that provides a continuous source of high-pressure, pure air for cooling the seekers of heat-seeking Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

The HiPPAGs are mounted in the launch rail attached on the aircraft wings. Ultra’s HiPPAG systems have been in service on F-18 aircraft since 1997 and are said to have accumulated more than three million flying hours.

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