L-3 Teams With GE Aviation For KC-10 Aircraft Extension Program

(New York, November 29, 2007) -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has signed an exclusive teaming agreement with GE Aviation for the U.S. Air Force KC-10 Aircraft Extension Program (AEP).

KC-10 AEP is a major modification to meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) requirements and include enhancements to the flight deck communication, navigation, and surveillance systems to ensure total interoperability in civil airspace. The upgrades will increase aircraft survivability, reliability, and net-centric operational capabilities, ensuring KC-10 functionality throughout global airspace in digital combat and commercial environments.


"The KC-10 has served America for decades," said Bob Drewes, President of L-3's Integrated Systems Group. "The L-3 and GE Aviation KC-10 partnership will bring together the needed capabilities to yield a low-risk, competitive solution and ensure that this platform will continue to accomplish its mission far into the future."

"GE Aviation is delighted to partner with L-3 Communications to provide the integrated avionics systems on the KC-10," said Dr. John Ferrie, President of Systems for GE Aviation. "We're both proven providers within the marketplace and make a strong team to supply the most advanced technology in integrated aircraft and avionics systems."

L-3 will perform systems integration at the aircraft level while GE will provide avionic-level integration. More specifically, L-3 will provide systems engineering, aircraft design, A-kit design and modification, aircraft systems integration and aircraft certification work; GE will provide integrated modular avionics for the core processing system, avionics integration including avionic sub-systems and systems integration support to the L-3 aircraft integration.

The team will submit an integrated total solution to replace aging and obsolete avionics and communications equipment, including inertial navigation, central air data computer, weather radar, autopilot, flight and engine instruments and displays, radios, cockpit voice and flight data recorders, fuel system gauges, refueling system electronics and flight engineer station controls and instruments. Training and mission planning systems will correspondingly be upgraded.

Source : L-3 Communications