NEW YORK, NY, November 15, 2000 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL) today announced that its
Link Simulation and Training division has selected Gardner Property Interests of Oklahoma
City, OK to build a facility that will house a new E-3 aircrew training program designed to
provide state-of-the-art training for U.S. Air Force E-3 flight crews.
Link, which received a $158 million contract from the Air Force in November 1999 to
provide commercial-type aircrew training services for the E-3 program, has been the
incumbent contractor on the existing program located at Tinker Air Force Base, OK since 1993.
"The E-3 program will become the first Air Force aircrew training system to use the
commercial training services approach," said Jim Dunn, Link's president. "At Link we're
proud to be at the forefront of this paradigm shift in the way the Air Force and contractors
can work together to arrive at cost-effective training solutions. This new facility will
enable the Air Force's 552nd Air Control Wing to purchase the training needed to enhance
E-3 aircrew skills while no longer being burdened by having to maintain a training facility."
The 32,000 square foot facility, which Link will lease from Gardner over a 15-year period,
will be constructed on a 2.81 acre site at Oklahoma City's East Port Distribution Center.
The new facility will be located directly southwest of Tinker Air Force Base and is scheduled
for completion in July 2001.
Two new E-3 Operational Flight Trainers and one E-3 Flight Training Device will be ready
for student training in July 2002. A month later, in August, the first E-3 aircrew students
to use the new training devices will graduate. The new high fidelity training devices will
enable E-3 aircrew members to train in modern simulators without having to fly the current
training aircraft.
The new facility also will house areas for classrooms, briefing rooms, courseware
maintenance, contractor logistics support and administrative offices. At this facility
students also will train on newly developed computer-based training courseware and Link
will provide student instruction, perform logistics and maintenance services and maintain
the training system configuration concurrent with the E-3 aircraft.
Link Simulation & 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 include 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 its headquarters operation in Arlington, Tex. and other major bases of
operation in Kirkwood, NY, Orlando, Fla., and Broken Arrow, Okla.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading merchant supplier of
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 U.S. government intelligence agencies,
aerospace prime contractors and commercial telecommunications and cellular customers.
To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit the company's website 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.
