Sanmina-SCI celebrates its Apache work

Plant makes processors to control copters' weapons and operations systems

Thursday, August 19, 2004

By BRIAN LAWSON

Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com

The U.S. Army's Longbow Apache helicopters, visible on the nightly news providing fire support and protection for military operations throughout Iraq, can thank Sanmina-SCI Corp. workers in Huntsville for the aircraft's "brains" and "heart."

Sanmina-SCI held a ceremony Wednesday at its south Huntsville plant to honor the combined efforts of those who have now produced 2,500 computer processors that control the weapons and operations systems for the Longbow Apache attack helicopters.

The event culminated with the arrival of a Longbow Apache helicopter that landed on the large lawn in front of the plant facing South Memorial Parkway.

Sanmina-SCI makes the processors for Boeing Co., which builds the aircraft for the Army. The project began in 1989, when then-Huntsville-based SCI Systems Inc. began design work for the project. Multiyear production began in 1995 and was extended in 1999.

Speakers including Sanmina-SCI President Randy Furr, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, congratulated the 400 assembled employees, saying the processor work was helping provide the best possible equipment for men and women fighting for freedom around the world.

Jason Chamberlain, Sanmina-SCI's senior vice president for defense and aerospace systems, said that over the project's life, nearly everyone at the south Huntsville plant has had a hand in Apache work.

Boeing has delivered 378 Longbow Apaches to the Army and another 117 to international customers, and Gary Bishop, who directs the Army Apache Longbow program for Boeing, pointed out that the processors built at Sanmina-SCI "are in each and every one of them."

"It's the heart of the aircraft," Bishop said.

Gene Sapp, former president and chief executive of SCI, said the processors represent the legacy of SCI at its best.

Sapp said the project started with a just a piece of paper that SCI engineers had to turn into a working design. He said while some questioned their ability to do it, the skills developed by SCI engineers during the space program in the 1960s and early 1970s served them well on the Army project.

The aircraft is the best in the world, according to Army Col. Ralph Pallotta, project manager for the Apache Attack Helicopter program. Pallotta called the processors the brains of an aircraft that has proven vital to the war on terrorism. With an exceptional record of durability and force protection in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army expects to use Apaches for the next 20 years.

Pallotta quoted troops who fought in Afghanistan describing the helicopter's extraordinary value on the battlefield, providing close air support amid heavy fighting.

" 'If there's any story to tell, it's that those Apaches kept going back over and over again, even with all those weapons firing at it,' " Pallotta said, reading a soldier's account.

Florenda Ikard, a Sanmina-SCI production specialist, has worked on the Apache program for the past nine years. She said hearing Pallotta's description of how the helicopter has saved lives and protected troops helped connect the job she does each day to the harsh realities facing the soldiers.

Pallotta showed a short video of an Army air cavalry unit that was assigned a mission to Baghdad in the early stages of the Iraq war. The unit had 32 Apaches fly through two hours of heavy enemy fire, only to find that due to faulty intelligence, the expected enemy wasn't around Baghdad.

The helicopters had to go back, and each helicopter and crew member survived. The soldiers quoted in the video all said the Apache was the only helicopter they would take into combat. Pallotta pointed out that when Longbow Apaches are providing support, convoys aren't attacked and resistance disappears.

"They can't figure out how to bring (the Apaches) down," Pallotta said. "I want to thank you all for the unique role you've played in the aircraft's development."

Robert Kloote, Sanmina-SCI program director for processors, said the original design weighed 20 pounds and used 110 watts of power. The specifications called for a 16-pound box and 80 watts. The finished cube SCI produced was 14 pounds and used 56 watts. Kloote said each processor has 4,788 individual parts.

"It's a monumental task, putting these together," Kloote said.

Kloote said the processor works 333 times faster than the fastest home broadband system. Or put another way, what takes the fastest home broadband line six minutes to download can be done in one second by the processors.



Sanmina-SCI celebrates its Apache work Plant makes processors to control copters' weapons and operations systems Thursday, August 19, 2004 By BRIAN LAWSON Times Business Writer brianl@htimes.com The U.S. Army's Longbow Apache helicopters, visible on the nightly news providing fire support and protection for military operations throughout Iraq, can thank Sanmina-SCI Corp. workers in Huntsville for the aircraft's "brains" and "heart." Sanmina-SCI held a ceremony Wednesday at its south Huntsville plant to honor the combined efforts of those who have now produced 2,500 computer processors that control the weapons and operations systems for the Longbow Apache attack helicopters. The event culminated with the arrival of a Longbow Apache helicopter that landed on the large lawn in front of the plant facing South Memorial Parkway. Sanmina-SCI makes the processors for Boeing Co., which builds the aircraft for the Army. The project began in 1989, when then-Huntsville-based SCI Systems Inc. began design work for the project. Multiyear production began in 1995 and was extended in 1999. Speakers including Sanmina-SCI President Randy Furr, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, congratulated the 400 assembled employees, saying the processor work was helping provide the best possible equipment for men and women fighting for freedom around the world. Jason Chamberlain, Sanmina-SCI's senior vice president for defense and aerospace systems, said that over the project's life, nearly everyone at the south Huntsville plant has had a hand in Apache work. Boeing has delivered 378 Longbow Apaches to the Army and another 117 to international customers, and Gary Bishop, who directs the Army Apache Longbow program for Boeing, pointed out that the processors built at Sanmina-SCI "are in each and every one of them." "It's the heart of the aircraft," Bishop said. Gene Sapp, former president and chief executive of SCI, said the processors represent the legacy of SCI at its best. Sapp said the project started with a just a piece of paper that SCI engineers had to turn into a working design. He said while some questioned their ability to do it, the skills developed by SCI engineers during the space program in the 1960s and early 1970s served them well on the Army project. The aircraft is the best in the world, according to Army Col. Ralph Pallotta, project manager for the Apache Attack Helicopter program. Pallotta called the processors the brains of an aircraft that has proven vital to the war on terrorism. With an exceptional record of durability and force protection in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army expects to use Apaches for the next 20 years. Pallotta quoted troops who fought in Afghanistan describing the helicopter's extraordinary value on the battlefield, providing close air support amid heavy fighting. " 'If there's any story to tell, it's that those Apaches kept going back over and over again, even with all those weapons firing at it,' " Pallotta said, reading a soldier's account. Florenda Ikard, a Sanmina-SCI production specialist, has worked on the Apache program for the past nine years. She said hearing Pallotta's description of how the helicopter has saved lives and protected troops helped connect the job she does each day to the harsh realities facing the soldiers. Pallotta showed a short video of an Army air cavalry unit that was assigned a mission to Baghdad in the early stages of the Iraq war. The unit had 32 Apaches fly through two hours of heavy enemy fire, only to find that due to faulty intelligence, the expected enemy wasn't around Baghdad. The helicopters had to go back, and each helicopter and crew member survived. The soldiers quoted in the video all said the Apache was the only helicopter they would take into combat. Pallotta pointed out that when Longbow Apaches are providing support, convoys aren't attacked and resistance disappears. "They can't figure out how to bring (the Apaches) down," Pallotta said. "I want to thank you all for the unique role you've played in the aircraft's development." Robert Kloote, Sanmina-SCI program director for processors, said the original design weighed 20 pounds and used 110 watts of power. The specifications called for a 16-pound box and 80 watts. The finished cube SCI produced was 14 pounds and used 56 watts. Kloote said each processor has 4,788 individual parts. "It's a monumental task, putting these together," Kloote said. Kloote said the processor works 333 times faster than the fastest home broadband system. Or put another way, what takes the fastest home broadband line six minutes to download can be done in one second by the processors. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.