Structural Monitoring Systems Plc (“SMS” or “the Company”) (ASX: SMN) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp. (“AEM”), has received full approval from the United States Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) for its revolutionary MTP136D Panel-Mount Forest Service Radio. This approval authorises its use in all federally regulated aerial firefighting agency and contractor aircraft across the United States.
Designed specifically to meet the needs of aerial firefighting operators, the MTP136D now fully complies with USFS communications requirements and gains formal acceptance into the approved equipment list for all its aerial firefighting contractors across all jurisdictions.
Initially launched in late 2023 with Canadian launch customer Yellowhead Helicopters, AEM subsequently achieved a Transport Canada Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of the MTP136D on all Airbus H125 aircraft, which sparked the radio’s initial push into the Canadian market – seeing operators and provincial agencies adopting the MTP136D in significant quantities.
With the USFS acknowledgement and approval, the radio can now access its full addressable market of more than 3,000 applicable aircraft fit to be upgraded to the MTP136D from existing legacy technology.
AEM Sales and Marketing Director Mr Tony Weller commented:
“This is a big day for aerial firefighting across North America and for our Company.
“With the radio already in use in Canada and by some U.S. state-led cooperator firefighting agencies, the USFS approval now unlocks the ability for all U.S. federal agencies and contractors on the front lines battling intense and devastating wildfires to have the most up-to-date radio technology at their fingertips.”
Mr Weller said with the stamp of approval by the USFS, the team at AEM is rapidly working to assist U.S. agencies, operators and contractors to complete their aircraft fleet conversions.
SMS Chairman and CEO Ross Love commented:
“This is a pivotal milestone and a testament to the outstanding work of the AEM team.
“USFS approval not only unlocks the largest market for this essential radio technology but also highlights the strength and value of AEM’s intellectual property. This success underscores our commitment to expanding product development and manufacturing capacity in avionics, particularly in high-value areas such as digital audio, radio, and loudspeakers.”
Mr Love further noted that this approval is expected to drive substantial growth for the MTP136D in 2025.
“We are in advanced negotiations with CalFire for a major contract that will see its fleet equipped with our radio technology.
“CalFire’s crucial role in responding to recent wildfires in Los Angeles has further emphasised the importance of special mission products such as ours and we are very proud of being a small part of their heroic firefighting efforts,” he added.
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