TESP HISTORY
Teledyne Electronic Safety Products (TESP) is a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) of Teledyne Technologies and has been a separate business unit of the Teledyne family since February of 1986. The electronics unit was initially created as a spin-off from Teledyne Systems in order to develop an electronic ejection seat controller. This controller was intended to support two development programs of Teledyne McCormick Selph, an ordnance company with a strong reputation in the pyrotechnic escape systems products line.
TESP designed, developed, and qualified the U.S. Navy's NACES Ejection Seat Electronic Sequencer, which has been in continuous production since 1989. These sequencers are currently flying in the T-45 and F/A-18. With that success, TESP moved on to become a second source supplier for the USAF ACES II electronic ejection seat sequencer. We have produced over 9000 ACES II models along with specialized training courses and supporting test equipment.
In 1989, TESP was selected to design, qualify, and produce the first electronic interseat sequencing system for use in the 2-place A-12 aircraft for the U.S. Navy. In 1992 TESP was again selected to design, develop, qualify, and produce the electronic interseat sequencing system for the USAF's F-22 Raptor. In 2005 The F-22 system was adapted to the F15 and is currently flying in South Korean, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. Teledyne then designed, developed, qualified and delivered a field/maintenance support test set for the F-22/F15 escape system.
TESP completed a major upgrade of the NACES ejection seat sequencer and production deliveries began in 2002. The new unit is called NACES/FAST. The entire electronics package has been redesigned and modernized to allow for expanded growth capabilities along with significantly reduced costs. The embedded firmware was programmed using ADA. TESP modified this configuration for use in the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ejection seat.
In 2003, a jointly funded program to replace the USAF ACES II sequencer with a fully digital (Digital Recovery Sequencer, DRS) design was initiated by Goodrich / USAF / TESP. This new digital unit was qualified in 2005 and to date over 7500 units have been delivered. Then in 2012, an upgrade to the DRS was initiated to add solid state pressure sensors and 3 axis accelerometers. This upgrade is called Modernized ACES Seat Sequencer (MASS) which was qualified in Q2 2014. To date, over 1000 MASS units have been delivered to the USAF and FMS users.
In 2010, with the forming of Teledyne Energetics, TESP and Teledyne RISI have developed several miniature Electronic Safe & Arms, Flight Termination Systems, Stage Separation Systems, Through Bulkhead Initiators, as well as several new detonators for specialty applications.
TESP continues to expand its product lines and has several projects under development that have applications in Aircrew Systems, Launch & Tactical Systems, Oil & Gas Exploration, and Energetics.
