And we continue to be successful winning programs for our open systems architecture-based avionics. This year we captured new international programs with wins on the German CH-53G and the AgustaWestland AW149 helicopters.
In addition to great customer relationships — and winning in the marketplace — the third reason we're well-positioned for the future is that we're shaping this company to stay competitive. Let me mention five areas that will be important to the future success of Rockwell Collins:
First, we're continuing to focus on our Lean journey. Lean Electronics™ has been one of the greatest contributors to our success over the last ten years. Our customers demand that we deliver cost-effective solutions faster — and with greater efficiency — and this initiative has allowed us to answer those requirements by achieving improvements in quality, on-time delivery and other important performance measures.
Through our Life Cycle Value Stream Management initiative we're able to make good business decisions across the entire spectrum of our products and services. And, our Design and Development Cycle Time Reduction initiative puts the focus on more effective use of engineering resources so we can deliver the cost-effective solutions our customers need to be successful, especially in this strained economic climate.
Additionally, our shared service business model enables us to deliver consistently improving financial results in varying market conditions through clear insight into our cost structure for manufacturing, engineering, human resources, information technology and finance. It's a key factor in converting higher year-over-year revenues into even higher earnings growth.
Second, we're continuing to invest in those areas that will allow us to address future growth opportunities. Our research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2009 are planned to be in the range of $925 million to $975 million — or about 19% of total company sales. This matches the high level of investment that has delivered the growth and market share gain mentioned previously.
In November 2008, we acquired SEOS, a leading provider of simulation displays and projector technology. The addition of their innovative solutions to our simulation and training offering will further enhance our ability to deliver extremely realistic training experiences across our served markets.
Another new market we're targeting is Information Management, enabling connectivity for commercial aircraft, and allowing net-centric operations across the military. Connectivity and the seamless delivery of information — whether to pilots, passengers or warfighters — will be a key requirement for the future.
We're also investing in solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Our acquisition of Athena Technologies, Inc., in April 2008, provides us the ability to put together our communication data links and navigation GPS with a robust flight control capability. And we're investing in additional integrated solutions for this rapidly growing market area.
Ultimately, we're focused on developing high-quality solutions and meeting the future cost expectations of our customers.
Third, we're becoming a more global company — with an expanded global reach.
Many of the program wins of the past year were the result of increased focus on international opportunities, including our positions on the Airbus A350 XWB, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, the Embraer Legacy 450/500 and the AgustaWestland AW149.