02 Oct 2007

Toone, TN, 02 October 2007 – The United States Air Force has awarded Kilgore Flares Company, LLC ("Kilgore") with a $12.1 million option on contract FA8213-07-C-0005 to supply additional infrared (IR) decoy flares in support of the F-22 Raptor.

Kilgore is currently progressing through First Article Testing and is on track to shift into high rate production of F-22 IR decoy flares during the spring of 2008 when it's new $7M Advance Materials Facility will be brought on line. Kilgore's Advance Materials Facility incorporates new technologies and fully automated advanced material processing, representing unprecedented capability within the countermeasures manufacturing industry today.

As a result of this option award, steady state production of F-22 IR decoy flares will continue through April 2009 and the total value of contract FA8213-07-C-0005 increases to $30,640,903.64.

"Kilgore has been involved with the expendable countermeasure suite for the Raptor since its inception. This program represents our intense focus on advanced product development, engineering manufacturing development, and seamless production transition. The capital investment in state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Kilgore Advanced Materials Facility, is indicative of the focused Chemring Group, PLC strategic vision related to supplying the US DoD the most advanced countermeasures for the most advanced platforms." – Bill Heinsohn, President