NEW YORK, NY, May 27, 2003 - L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL)
today announced that its Link Simulation and Training division
has been awarded a $22.07 million delivery order to develop
concurrency upgrades on aircrew and maintenance training systems
for the U.S. Air Force's B-2A Spirit training program.
Upgrades to the B-2A training system,
which will be performed by Link's Binghamton, NY and Arlington,
TX operations, will focus on concurrency modifications to
the training system and a computer upgrade for the aircrew
trainers
A primary modification Link will make to the trainers --
which includes three weapon system trainers, one mission trainer,
a suite of maintenance trainers and a weapons load trainer
-- will focus on simulating the aircraft's new LINK-16 Center
Instrument Display/In-flight Replanning system. The LINK-16
Center Instrument Display/In-flight Replanning system provides
technical and operational improvements to the B-2A's tactical
data link capabilities.
"This award continues Link's ongoing total system support
of the U.S. Air Force's B-2A training program," said David
Williams, Link's vice president of Training Services Programs.
"Since the mid-1980s, we have continued to work closely with
both the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, the B-2A weapon system
developer, in the modernization of the B-2A weapon system."
This delivery order is part of a trainer modification plan
identified in the B-2A Training System Contractor Logistic
Support contract awarded to Link in 1998. This indefinite
delivery/indefinite quantity contract spans 10 years, and
calls for Link to provide all contractor supplied services
and product updates for the B-2A training system. These modifications
are part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the training system
to maintain concurrency with the B-2A weapon system.
The B-2A training system has been fielded at Whiteman Air
Force Base, MO since the early 1990s. This system supports
initial and continuation aircrew and maintainer training in
addition to providing rehearsal training for actual combat
missions flown by B-2A pilots of the 509th Bomb Wing.
The B-2A weapon system trainer is a full-motion, high fidelity
trainer providing out-the-window visual scenes and simulation
of all onboard systems. The weapon system trainer allows B-2A
pilots to become proficient in operating the aircraft and
its weapon systems under simulated combat situations that
can take place in virtually any part of the world.
B-2A pilots use the mission trainer, which provides the same
level of high fidelity simulation found on the weapon system
trainer, to perfect their skills in operating the aircraft's
onboard systems.
The B-2A maintenance training system is composed of a suite
of trainers used by B-2A maintainers, pilots and weapon load
technicians to gain off-aircraft expertise in the diagnosis
and repair of aircraft systems and the loading of weapons.
This effort is part of an overall training system modification
that will provide training device and curriculum updates to
support the B-2A Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Team
(FAST) aircraft upgrade program.
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.