NEW YORK, N.Y., 28 April 2005. L-3 Communications announced today that its Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has finalized a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to provide system modernization and service life extension for eight Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
Total value of the contract to L-3 IS is approximately $300 million.
KAI is the prime contractor to the Korea Ministry of National Defense for the program. The contract represents the second phase of a ROK Navy maritime patrol expansion effort, and will include modifications to extend the aircraft service life and equip the P-3 aircraft with a complete suite of modern sensors and electronics. The program will also provide ground support systems for both the new and existing P-3 patrol aircraft, enabling the ROK Navy to increase its patrol strength to meet the needs of a country almost entirely surrounded by ocean.
"This partnership pairs KAI's aircraft design and manufacturing strengths with L-3 IS's capabilities in aircraft modification and systems integration," said Bob Drewes, president of L-3 IS. "Our best people will work shoulder-to-shoulder with KAI to deliver the industry's most advanced and reliable airborne mission systems."
Since the 1960's, L-3 IS has modified more than 300 P-3 aircraft and is currently performing advanced mission systems, major structural modification, refurbishment and revitalization for a broad customer base including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customers and Border Protection Bureau, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. L-3 IS recently completed modernization of the Royal Australian Air Force fleet of AP-3Cs under a program designated Sea Sentinel.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems is an SEI CMM level 5 software developer and integrator of complex electronic systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Headquartered in Greenville, Texas, L-3 IS also operates from major sites in Austin and Waco, Texas; Madison, Miss.; Lexington, Ky.; Tulsa, Okla.; Easton, Md.; Newport News, Va.; and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, secure communications systems, aircraft modernization, training and government services and is a merchant supplier of a broad array of high technology products. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. government intelligence agencies, and aerospace prime contractors. For more information, see www.L-3Com.com.
