The Upturned Exhaust System (UES) Program is an effort to provide a system that lowers the exhaust infrared (IR) signature in the Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in a more difficult target to acquire from ground-fired rockets.

Ducommun value proposition/solution:

The UES Program is the result of four years of cooperative development between the U.S. Army, Sikorsky, TIGHITCO and Ducommun AeroStructures New York. Ducommun New York was selected as the supplier of choice as a result of our ability to work on co-design solutions and design for manufacturability, which enabled the partnership to provide a rapid deployment. The Ducommun New York solution included the ability to uniquely form titanium and Inconel materials into complex conical shapes and assemble them into complex ducts repeatedly and in high volume.

Outcome/benefits:

In addition to accomplishing the reduced IR signature objective, the Upturned Exhaust System ducts also provide increased power and improve the overall weight characteristics of the aircraft. Deliveries are planned for field retrofit and production line cut in.