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L-3 Communications Acquires Aeromet, Inc.
NEW YORK, NY, June 12, 2003 – L-3 Communications
(NYSE: LLL) announced today that on May 30, 2003 it
acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of
Aeromet, Inc. The transaction, which is valued at approximately
$20 million, is expected to be slightly accretive to
L-3 Communications’ earnings. Aeromet had annual
sales of $30 million in 2002.
Headquartered in Tulsa, OK, Aeromet provides a broad
array of services, including electro-optical and infrared
(EO/IR) programs supporting intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and specialized meteorological
applications. The company operates in several key mission
areas: test and instrumentation work, aeronautical
programs and special mission aircraft, airborne surveillance
for ballistic missile defense (BMD), advanced atmospheric
sciences and measurements and remote site and range
operations. Aeromet’s customer base includes
the Department of Defense (DoD), the Missile Defense
Agency (MDA), the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the Department
of Energy (DoE), and aerospace prime contractors.
“Aeromet provides a unique, substantial and
proven new EO/IR capability, which is already in use
by the MDA, to L-3 Communications,” said Frank
C. Lanza, chairman and chief executive officer of L-3
Communications. “Aeromet advances our strategy
to expand L-3’s EO/IR product lines, which began
with our Wescam acquisition in 2002. We also see the
opportunity to apply Aeromet technology to L-3’s
current ISR products supporting Airborne Infrared Surveillance
(AIRS), an emerging near-term solution to BMD surveillance
requirements.
“One of Aeromet’s key areas of expertise,” continued
Mr. Lanza, “is in airborne test, instrumentation,
design and production in support of the Ballistic Missile
Defense program. Aeromet is a leader in pointing, acquisition
and tracking technology for ballistic targets. Performing
these tasks in midcourse flight is one of the most
technically demanding exercises in missile defense.”
Mr. Lanza noted that Aeromet has become the leading
supplier of airborne Test and Evaluation support for
the MDA. Two of their aircraft, HALO-I and HALO-II,
are currently the only operational airborne Test and
Evaluation platforms for the MDA. In addition, Aeromet
is providing the primary sensor system for a third
aircraft, called WASP, which is currently under development.
Aeromet has successfully participated in more than
150 optical surveillance missions for the DoD supporting
BMD technology development and BMD element testing.
Aeromet also conducts meteorological support for the
Reagan Test Site (RTS) at the Kwajalein Atoll, and
operates and staffs the DoE’s Southern Great
Plains Cloud and Radiation Testbed located near Lamont,
OK.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications
is a leading merchant supplier of Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems and products, secure
communications systems and products, avionics and ocean
products, training devices and services, microwave
components and telemetry, instrumentation, space and
navigation products. Its customers include the Department
of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected
U.S. Government intelligence agencies, aerospace prime
contractors and commercial telecommunications and wireless
customers.
To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit
the company's web site 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. The forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date made, and the
company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements.
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