Boeing has selected Exelis to supply composite airframe substructures for its flagship 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Exelis currently provides composite storage tanks for the Boeing 737, 747, 767 and 777 model aircraft. The 787 is comprised of 50 percent of composite materials, leading to significant weight savings over traditional metallic structures, Exelis said.
"This award is a result of our performance and partnership with Boeing — a relationship that spans more than 40 years," said Mike Blair, vice president and general manager of Exelis Aerostructures business. "Our expertise in high-rate, high-volume composite production and the available capacity to facilitize quickly provide a distinct advantage to our customer."