Oct 22 2012
ITT Exelis officially opened its full-service mine defense production facility in Panama City, Fla.
“To meet customer needs more efficiently, we required a more flexible, consolidated space,” said Rich Sorelle, acting president of the Exelis Electronic Systems division. “With this new building, we will be better positioned to provide mine defense capabilities to the U.S. Navy and a growing number of allies.”
Naval forces depend on mine defense systems to clear sea mines from strategic waterways, which carry 90 percent of international trade. Systems produced by Exelis are heavily used by the U.S. Navy and allied forces to find and clear multiple types of sea mines during mine-clearing operations.
Exelis advanced minesweepers defeat mines and enable U.S. and allied navies to keep shipping lanes open. The Exelis multiple-influence sweep systems are towed at high speeds through deep-ocean and littoral waters by helicopters, minesweeping ships or are remotely operated during mine-clearance operations.
The Exelis mine defense business relocated from Amityville, N.Y. to Panama City, Fla. in 2005 with only a few employees. Since then, the business has grown to nearly 100 employees who develop and integrate minesweeping systems for the U.S. Navy and allied naval forces, such as the United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan. The new facility provides Exelis with 105,000 square feet for its business operations.
Source: http://www.exelisinc.com