AEROSPACE SEGMENT

Our Strategy

Our strategy for the Aerospace segment is to expand our global market position in defense and commercial markets, while maintaining leadership in product technical performance and application engineering support, while continuing to concentrate on lean manufacturing techniques, lead time reduction and low cost sourcing.

Results of Operations

The following table presents selected financial data for our Aerospace segment:

	2011	2010	2009
In thousands
Net sales	$ 547,403	$ 486,516	$ 500,696
$ change	60,887	(14,180)	24,071
% change	12.5 %	(2.8 )%	5.1 %
Operating income	$ 80,424	$ 67,151	$ 74,996
$ change	13,273	(7,845 )	13,388
% change	19.8 %	(10.5 )%	21.7 %
% of net sales	14.7 %	13.8 %	15.0 %
Backlog on contract	$ 531,920	$ 532,630	$ 430,885

Net Sales

Net sales increased for 2011 as compared to 2010 due to:

• an increase in sales volume on bearings products in the commercial and business / regional jet markets;
• the incremental contribution of sales from the acquisition of Global Aerosystems and Vermont Composites;
• work on the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command contract for K-MAX® unmanned aircraft systems;
• an increase in commercial sales of the JPF fuze to foreign militaries;
• higher volume on the Egypt SH-2G(E) upgrade program;
• an increase in sales volume on our legacy fuze programs; and
• changes in foreign currency exchange rates which favorably impacted sales by $2.3 million.

These increases were partially offset by:

• reduced shipments to the USG of the JPF fuze resulting from issues encountered during acceptance testing that interrupted production at various times throughout the year;
• reduced requirements under our Sikorsky BLACK HAWK helicopter cockpit program;
• reduced volume on our C-17 program; and
• lower volume on our helicopter after market programs, including blade erosion coating programs.

Net sales decreased for 2010 as compared to 2009 due to:

• a decrease in sales volume on bearings products;
• lower volume on our helicopter after market programs, including the Egypt SH-2G(E) upgrade program, our K-MAX® program and sales of SH-2G spare parts to New Zealand;
• a reduction in C-17 ship set deliveries due to a reduction in volume requirements and production interruptions at our customer's facility; and
• unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes which impacted sales by $1.3 million.

These decreases were partially offset by:

• higher priced sales on our JPF program to the United States Government ("USG"), resulting from the completion of Option 5 and the transition to Option 6, which has a higher per fuze price;
• commercial sales to foreign militaries of the JPF fuze;
• increased sales volume on our blade erosion coating programs;
• initial deliveries on our Bell Helicopter program; and
• increased sales volume on our Sikorsky BLACK HAWK helicopter cockpit program.

Operating Income

Operating income increased for 2011 as compared to 2010 due to:

• higher gross profit generated by our bearings products resulting from the increased sales volume noted above;
• contribution of gross profit from the K-MAX® unmanned aircraft systems;
• the absence of program related losses experienced in 2010 on the Sikorsky Canadian MH-92 program and on one of our fuze programs; and
• operating income contributed by Global Aerosystems and to a lesser extent Vermont Composites.

These increases were partially offset by $6.2 million in expense associated with the settlement of the FMU-143 matter and decreased gross profit on our helicopter aftermarket programs due to decreased volume and a decrease in gross profit on our JPF program as a result of the suspension of deliveries due to the production issues encountered in the second half of 2011.

Operating income decreased for 2010 as compared to 2009 due to:

• the $6.4 million non-cash non-tax deductible goodwill charge taken at our U.K. Composites reporting unit;
• losses resulting from a decrease in the number of required units and program delays on one of our fuze programs;
• reduced gross profit generated by our bearings products resulting from the lower sales volume noted above;
• a reduction in gross profit due to a reduction in C-17 ship set volume requirements;
• losses recorded on our Bell Helicopter program due to inefficiencies on our initial production units;
• additional losses recorded on the Sikorsky Canadian MH-92 helicopter program, as discussed below; and
• increased selling, general and administrative expenses related to legal fees associated with the FMU-143 program.

These decreases were partially offset by the increased volume on our Sikorsky BLACK HAWK Helicopter cockpit program, increased gross profit on our JPF program due to more favorable pricing on Option 6 deliveries, gross profit associated with the higher sales volume of the JPF fuze to commercial customers and an increase in gross profit on our blade erosion coating programs.

Backlog

Vermont Composites, acquired in the fourth quarter of 2011, added $18.9 million to our December 31, 2011 backlog. This increase was offset by a $47.5 million reduction in the UH-60 backlog, which we expect will increase as we begin to receive orders during the first half of 2012.

The increase in backlog in 2010 compared to 2009 is the result of an increase in orders for our bearing products, new USG orders and commercial sales to foreign militaries under our JPF program, as well as the Bell Helicopter and A-10 programs, which were awarded in 2009, but for which orders were received during 2010.

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