L-3 MAS Delivers Final RAAF F/A-18 Centre Barrel Replacement Aircraft
WILLIAMTOWN, NSW, Australia, June 29 /CNW Telbec/ - L-3 MAS announced today the on-time delivery of the last of 10 Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet aircraft for which it performed Centre Barrel Replacement (CBR) work under contract to the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The CBR is a major engineering and overhaul undertaking that extends the life of the centre fuselage beyond the original withdrawal date of the aircraft.
Under the DMO's Hornet Upgrade Phase 3 (HUG 3) program, the aircraft systems and wings were removed in Williamtown by BAE Systems Australia. The Hornet fuselages were airlifted to the L-3 MAS CBR-dedicated facility in Mirabel, Canada, and then sent back to Williamtown for final assembly and returned to flight status by BAE.
The complex effort required innovation, teamwork and flawless execution of a well-developed plan. All critical milestones were met and all 10 aircraft have returned to active service.
"The HUG 3 program, and, in particular, the CBR work was a great success," said Sylvain Bédard, president of L-3 MAS Canada. "L-3 MAS, with the assistance of the DMO, its Australian industry partners and the Canadian Forces, delivered as promised. We are very grateful of the trust and confidence bestowed by the DMO in awarding this contract to L-3 MAS."
Approximately 200 L-3 MAS employees have worked on the HUG 3 program since it began in 2003, which the DMO's chief executive officer, Dr. Stephen Gumley, described as "the most significant activity of (project) AIR 5376 that was on our Large Scale Project list."
"We are very delighted with the outcome of this contract with L-3 MAS," said Dr. Gumley. "L-3 MAS, with its industry partners, worked in true partnership with the Tactical Fighter Support and Program Office (TFSPO) to deliver all milestones as planned. The operational community has been well served, and the CBR has brought extended life to our venerable Hornet fleet."
About L-3 MAS
L-3 MAS is among Canada's leading providers of aircraft fleet management, product life-cycle extension and in-service support services to government departments and agencies and commercial customers. The company employs 1000 people at operating centres in Cold Lake, Ottawa, Mirabel, Bagotville, Trenton, Shearwater and Williamtown (Australia). L-3 MAS, in addition to providing extensive fleet management, engineering and maintenance support for the Canadian Forces and Royal Australian Air Force fleets of the F/A-18 fighter aircraft, is the leader in providing in-service support for the new CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter.
About L-3 Integrated Systems Group
L-3 Integrated Systems Group develops and integrates defense and commercial technology for U.S. and allied customers worldwide. L-3 Integrated Systems has more than five decades of experience in the development of complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; command and control; and secure communications. It is recognized internationally as a systems integration organization specializing in the modernization and maintenance of aircraft of all sizes. It is a leader in advanced technologies for signal processing, electronic countermeasures, sensor development and aircraft self-protection. Systems provided or maintained by L-3 Integrated Systems help protect military and civilian personnel, bases, assets and national borders throughout the world.
About L-3 Communications
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems, aircraft modernization and maintenance and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion. To learn more about L-3, 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. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "will," "could" and similar expressions 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.
For further information: Micheline Lalanne, Assistant to the President, L-3 Communications MAS, (450) 476-4477, [email protected]
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