Sargent Fletcher Inc.
Established in 1940,
Sargent Fletcher has
manufactured more probe and drogue aerial refueling systems, special
purpose pods, and external
fuel tanks than any other company in the world. Sargent
Fletcher has produced more than
2000 aerial refueling systems, more than 1,000,000 external fuel tanks, and over 1000
special purpose pods. Sargent Fletcher is the only company in the world
that has successfully designed, manufactured, and flight-tested pneumatic
ejector racks.
Aerial Refueling Systems
The
Sargent Fletcher probe and drogue Aerial
Refueling System is
the world standard for the KC-130H/J Hercules. The venerable
Sargent Fletcher FR-300 Hose Drum Unit installs either in the fuselage or in an external, under wing
pod and pylon, which Sargent Fletcher also manufactures. The
Sargent Fletcher Probe and Drogue
aerial refueling system is standard for the U.S. KC-130H/J. The
Sargent Fletcher FR-600 Hose Drum Unit is used for the KC-10 and
world air forces.
Over
the last 10 years, Sargent Fletcher has worked to develop the unique concept of Aerial
Refueling Tank System (ART/SŪ), combining extensive Sargent Fletcher experience
in both aerial refueling systems and external fuel tanks. The
ART/SŪ incorporates a fully-retractable, integral probe that allows,
for example, F-16 aircraft to refuel from a probe-and-drogue tanker
and/or to perform buddy-buddy refueling without the need for structural
modifications of the aircraft.
External
Fuel Tanks
Virtually every fighter aircraft flown by the
United States Air Force since World War II has flown with a Sargent
Fletcher
designed and manufactured External
Fuel Tank. We are currently in production on fuel tanks
for the F-2, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F/A-22, Gripen Export, KC-130J, and
T-50/A-50 aircraft.
Special
Purpose Pods
Tactical
Airborne Special
Purpose Pods are used as permanent and/or temporary installations on applicable
aircraft for special purpose missions. All pods are built to
military specifications and, whenever feasible, use/modify the external
geometry and internal structural configurations of the Sargent Fletcher external fuel
tank product lines as required to accommodate the payload components
that minimize and prevent degradation of aircraft performance and
non-recurring costs. The special purpose pods contain all mounting
structure necessary to secure the mission payload components with
primary and secondary structure, harnesses and cables, and environmental
control systems. The pod and pod components exhibit a service life
relative to repeated air loads, vibratory forces, and thermal loads.
Internal structures are designed to minimize weight with an emphasis on
simplicity. Accessibility to internal components plays a dominant
role in location and design of removable access panels to ensure
maintainability of the pods.
Pneumatic Ejectors
In year 2000,
Sargent Fletcher acquired The Boeing Company
Pneumatic Ejection Rack Technology License. The acquired technology
encompasses an
advanced non-pyrotechnic ejection system that meets the requirements of the JSF
program. This non-pyrotechnic system incorporates a high pressure
pneumatic system that replaces the pyrotechnic system of previous generation Suspension
and Release Equipment hardware. This pneumatic system is composed of an
accumulator housed inside the bomb rack itself residing where the pyrotechnic
breech once was housed. The accumulator is charged and maintained by an
on-board compression source, either a centrally distributed system or a
dedicated aircraft mounted compressor.
The Smart Multiple Ejection Rack
(SMERŪ) concept provides a system that
is a self-contained, light weight, aerodynamically efficient multiple carriage
that eliminates pyrotechnics. The SMERŪ auxiliary mission equipment
is self-charging and regulating throughout
the entire operational envelope of using aircraft, and eliminates burdensome
pyrotechnic cartridges.
Sargent
Fletcher Inc. Certifications
Sargent
Fletcher expertise in the
design, development, manufacture, test, and delivery of aerospace structures and
systems is recognized worldwide. In addition to ISO 9001,
AS9100, and ISO 14001 Certification, Sargent Fletcher is a Gold
supplier for The Boeing Company and, a Select supplier for Lockheed
Martin Corporation and British Aerospace.
