These contracts are additive to current production and extend deliveries into 2006. The blades will be manufactured at the DAS Monrovia Facility, which has built every Apache rotor blade since the inception of the program in 1974.
Boeing produces the next-generation AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter in Mesa for the U.S. Army and a growing number of international defense forces.
The Apache rotor blades are designed to withstand direct small arms fire and maintain airworthiness, and are constructed of advanced composites, metals and polymers to exacting standards and tight tolerances.
Joseph C. Berenato, chairman and chief executive officer of Ducommun, stated, "We are very pleased at the award of this follow-on contract which reaffirms our long-term commitment to taking on complex assemblies as we strive to increase our proportion of value added work."
"Further, the experience we have gained on this program has helped us win additional helicopter blade production from other customers, broadening our presence in this market niche. We are very proud to be a part of the Boeing Team supporting the Apache helicopter program at this time in our nation's history."