ITT has announced its Field Replaceable Connector System (FRCS) has achieved clean electrical weapon separation during the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Exercise Red Flag.

Exercise Red Flag provides highly realistic combat training, including the release of live smart ordnance, in a combined air, ground and electronic threat environment.

The FRCS is a jam-resistant weapons interface connector for installation on F-16 MLU Fighting Falcons from the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. Its new 'push to fit' design replaces the traditional screw-on connectors that have often jammed at separation causing physical damage and posing risk to mission, aircraft and weapon.

ITT's FRCS recently completed successful field testing through USAF Foreign Comparative Testing and a full-fielding recommendation for use on F-16 MIL-STD-1760 weapons.

FRCS pylon umbilical assemblies are in service on Tornado IDS, Harrier GR7/9, Typhoon, A-10C Thunderbolt and currently undergoing certification for F-15E Strike Eagle, Gripen, AV-8B, F/A-18 Hornet and several smart multiple store carriage systems.