L-3 Communications to modify UH-60M helicopters
NEW YORK, N.Y., 7 April 2005. L-3 Communications announced today that its Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has been awarded an approximately $42 million task order by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for a UH-60M-to-MH-60M prototype conversion and an alternate engine integration program.
With an overall potential value of $109 million, the initial $42 million in incremental funding is part of the previously awarded $1.5 billion Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Special Operations Forces-Support Activity (SOF-SA) contract, announced on March 17, 2003. This task order includes two aircraft: one that will be converted from UH-60M to the MH-60M configuration and a second aircraft for alternate engine integration.
L-3 will accomplish integration and modification to convert the standard U.S. Army UH-60M configuration aircraft to the MH-60M configuration, including Special Operations Forces-unique avionics and mission equipment. L-3 will also perform extensive airworthiness qualification for the airframe modifications and the new alternate engine, which will be provided as government-furnished equipment.
Work on the estimated 4-year program will be managed by the L-3 Joint Operations Group (JOG), a business unit of L-3 IS headquartered in Lexington, Ky., with additional efforts performed by L-3 IS’ facility in Waco, Texas.
“This is a great opportunity to demonstrate L-3 Integrated Systems’ range of capabilities in sophisticated aircraft integration programs,” said Bob Drewes, president of L-3 IS. “We’re proud to introduce the U.S. Special Operations Command to our world-class flight sciences expertise at Waco, as well as to continue providing the same high-quality, high-tempo support that our JOG delivers on a daily basis.”
The L-3 JOG will accomplish the design engineering, build kits and perform installations in Lexington, Ky., while the L-3 IS Waco facility will provide engineering analysis, flight sciences and flight test planning and support.
The cost reimbursable ID/IQ SOF-SA contract, awarded in 2003, with a ceiling contract value of $1.5 billion and executed by the L-3 JOG, provides logistics support to USSOCOM, its component commands, selected Department of Defense customers, and designated government agencies.
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 operates from major sites in Austin and Waco, Texas; Madison, Miss.; Lexington, Ky.; Tulsa, Okla.; Newport News, Va.; and Avalon, 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.