Northstar Network Receives Contract Add-on from L-3 Mapps

(St. John's, NL., February 12, 2010) -- Northstar Network Ltd. (Northstar) announced today that it has been awarded another add-on to the multi million contract awarded by L-3 MAPPS Inc. in March 2009 to build consoles for land-based trainers for the Halifax Class of ships. The original contract to manufacture 66 Standard Marine Consoles and 60 Local Operating Panels as part of its Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) was broadened in August 2009 to include the design and manufacture of the land-based training simulators for the East Coast Navies. Now the contract is once again being expanded to add the Canadian Navy's west coast training simulators, engineering support for the program and additional components for both domestic and foreign naval upgrade programs.

"These additional opportunities reflect the strong relationship being built between Northstar and L-3 MAPPS, and confirms Northstar's commitment to delivering the best possible support to its customers. Our dedicated engineering and project management teams provide word class support to L-3, ensuring that the delivered products meet or exceed the customer's requirements. With these additions, Northstar has become the largest domestic supplier to L-3 MAPPS on its marine console program" said Howard Nash, President of Northstar.


L-3 MAPPS' IPMS provides advanced ship control and monitoring capabilities for the Frigates' ship platform systems, including propulsion, electrics, auxiliaries, and steering. It also provides advanced functionality with a damage control system, an on-board training system, CCTV integration and an interface with the ship's new combat management system.

L-3 MAPPS first implemented the pioneering Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) on the Canadian Patrol Frigate program in the 1980's. Since then, the company has been continuously innovating its open-architecture IPMS, currently exported to 18 navies around the world. "We are very pleased to continue working with our partner, Northstar Network, on the Halifax Class IPMS," said Shankar Udupa, Vice-President of Engineering and Operations of L-3 MAPPS.

The Halifax Class frigate is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that has served the Canadian Forces since 1992. The HMCS Halifax was the first of twelve Canadian-designed and built vessels, which combine traditional anti-submarine capabilities with systems to manage surface and air threats. In 2007, the Canadian government announced a planned refit of the Halifax Class known as the Halifax Class Modernization program.

Source : Northstar Network Ltd.