SAINT-LAURENT, QUEBEC, CANADA, February 7, 2006 – L-3 Communications MAPPS, a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications, announced today that it has secured a contract from the CANDU* Owners Group Inc. (COG) to manufacture a prototype plant computer system for CANDU nuclear power plants. Participating COG members in the deal are Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, Hydro-Québec and New Brunswick Power Nuclear Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company, Nucleoelectrica Argentina S.A. and Romania’s Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica SA.
CANDU plant computer systems are commonly referred to as Digital Control Computers (DCCs) and the prototype system is coined “PDCCZ.” As part of building the PDCCZ system, L-3 MAPPS will use the current design of the DCC central processing unit (the SSCI-890) and modify it to account for any component obsolescence issues, as well as upgrade some of the other DCC component designs as specified by COG. L-3 MAPPS will capture, update and document the design of the entire PDCCZ, since this will be used as a reference for all future DCC refurbishment projects. The PDCCZ system will reside at L-3 MAPPS’ main Montreal facility and will be used to provide support to all participating COG members for a period of up to 30 years.
Through cooperation with CANDU designer Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), or directly with power generation utilities, L-3 MAPPS has been supplying CANDU nuclear power plant DCC systems since 1970. DCC systems are used to monitor and control all the major reactor and power plant functions. While most major components for the DCCs have traditionally been supplied by L-3 MAPPS, this project represents an increase in L-3’s scope of supply as the company takes over the manufacturing rights of the DCC central processing unit from a third party. In addition, L-3 MAPPS will redesign certain existing DCC technology to address component obsolescence.
As CANDU owners move to extending the life of their plants, this project positions L-3 MAPPS to be a strategic DCC supplier for another 30 years.
“We have been seeking a strong single partner that can take on all aspects of design and manufacturing for the CANDU plant computer systems,” said Barry Collingwood, project manager, COG Joint Projects. “By choosing L-3 MAPPS to advance the useful lives of the DCC systems, we have laid the foundation for the long-term maintainability of the systems for our members.”
“It is indeed our pleasure to build upon the long history that we have established with CANDU plant operators,” said Rashid Khan, president of L-3 MAPPS. “Moreover, we are proud to be amongst the companies that have contributed to the continued viability of the CANDU technology and we hope to service this key market segment for many years to come.”
The CANDU Owners Group is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing cooperation, mutual assistance and information exchange for the successful support, development, operation, maintenance and economics of CANDU technology. All CANDU operators worldwide, four Canadian and six offshore, and the CANDU designer, AECL, are members of COG. The activities of COG cover collaborative research, information exchange, joint projects and regulatory affairs. COG was formed in 1984 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
* CANDU is an acronym for CANada Deuterium Uranium, designed by and is a registered trademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. The CANDU system is a unique design that uses deuterium oxide (heavy water) as the moderator and coolant, and natural uranium as fuel.
L-3 MAPPS has over 20 years of experience in pioneering technological advances in the marine automation field and over 30 years of experience in delivering high-fidelity power plant simulation to leading utilities worldwide. In addition, the company has more than three decades of expertise in supplying plant computer systems for Canadian heavy water reactors. L-3 MAPPS also provides targeted controls and simulation solutions to the space sector.
To learn more about L-3 MAPPS, please visit the company’s web site at www.L-3Com.com/mapps.
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. The company is a leading merchant supplier of a broad array of high technology products, including guidance and navigation, sensors, scanners, fuzes, data links, propulsion systems, simulators, avionics, electro optics, satellite communications, electrical power equipment, encryption, signal intelligence, antennas and microwave components. L-3 also supports a variety of Homeland Security initiatives with products and services. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. Government intelligence agencies and aerospace prime contractors.
To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit the company’s web site at www.L-3Com.com.
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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” 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.