NEW YORK, NY, April 7, 2004 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE:
LLL) today announced that its Link Simulation and Training
division has been awarded a CDN $127 million contract from
Bombardier Aerospace's Military Aviation Training organization
to deliver and support a state-of-the-art training system
for the Canadian Air Force's CF-18 Advanced Distributed Combat
Training System (ADCTS) program. Elements of this contract
will be performed in Canada.
Bombardier Aerospace, Military Aviation Training, a world
leading training systems
integration organization based in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada,
is the prime contractor for the CF-18 ADCTS. L-3 Communications,
well established in Canada with offices in Toronto and Ottawa
in addition to operating divisions in Western Canada and Quebec,
is a provider of F/A-18 simulators in several countries around
the world.
This combat training system, which is projected to last 15
years, will support the Canadian Forces Incremental Modernization
Project for the CF-18 aircraft platform. The CF-18 ADCTS will
provide networked team, joint and combined training flight
simulation exercises. This program will be the first operational
Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) system to be fielded
in Canada. The training system will establish the DMO architecture
and provide training for all CF-18 training requirements.
CF-18 ADCTS training will range from relatively basic missions
to full-theater level battles, supported by distributed training
exercises across Canada.
"This revolutionary flight simulation system will enable
aircrews to conduct full mission training against highly sophisticated
interactive threats in a networked training environment that
will markedly increase combat readiness," said John McNellis,
president of Link Simulation and Training. "The Link CF-18
training devices solution is based on modern, leading edge
flight simulation technologies we're delivering today in support
of U.S. Navy F/A-18 programs."
Canadian Forces Base in Cold Lake, Alberta and Canadian Forces
Base in Bagotville, Quebec will be home to the program's two
new Mission Training Centers.
The Canadian Forces mission training centers will be integrated
with new Link-built CF-18 Air Combat Emulators (ACES). Link
will build a total of six CF-18 ACES for the program. Four
of the CF-18 ACES will be installed at Canadian Forces Base
Cold Lake and two of the simulators will go to Canadian Forces
Base Bagotville. These high fidelity, networked simulators
will immerse pilots in a realistic, virtual battlespace that
will support a full range of tactical training exercises.
All CF-18 ACES will be integrated with Link's SimuSphereTM
display system, providing pilots with computer generated visual
imagery across a 360º field-of-view.
The CF-18 ACES will be complemented by 10 Link-built CF-18
Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS)-equipped Part Task Trainers,
which will be distributed between the Canadian Forces squadrons
at Cold Lake, Bagotville and the Canadian Forces Directorate
Aerospace Requirements organization in Ottawa, Ontario. The
CF-18 Part Task Trainers, integrated with a single flat panel
display to view out-the-window computer generated imagery,
will allow pilots to hone their skills in the performance
of specific aircraft system operations.
Six CF-18 ACES are due to be delivered in 2005 and 2006.
The first CF-18 HOTAS Part Task Trainers will be delivered
in 2004 to facilitate pilot transition to the modernized CF-18
aircraft.
In support of the CF-18 ADCTS, Canadian company XWAVE - which
has offices in Ottawa and Toronto - has been selected to support
the Bombardier/Link team by providing critical engineering
services. XWAVE, which will develop visual system databases,
is the newest member of the Bombardier/Link CF-18 ADCTS team.
Link Simulation and Training is a systems integration organization
that specializes in delivering and supporting training systems
and equipment that enhance operational proficiency. Link's
full range of services includes conducting front end analysis,
program design, course development and production, interactive
distance learning, simulator design and production, training
implementation, training evaluation, training management and
field support. Link has major operations in Arlington, TX,
Binghamton, NY, Orlando, FL, Broken Arrow, OK and Phoenix,
AZ.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading
merchant supplier of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
(ISR) products, secure communications systems and products,
avionics and ocean products, training products, microwave
components and telemetry, instrumentation, space and wireless
products. Its customers include the Department of Defense,
selected US government intelligence agencies, aerospace prime
contractors and commercial telecommunications and wireless
customers.
To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit the
company's web site at www.L-3Com.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters
set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from any such statement, including the
risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Safe Harbor
Compliance Statement for Forward-looking Statements included
in the company's recent filings, including Forms 10-K and
10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date made, and the company
undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.