L-3 Communications announced here at Farnborough a number of significant contracts. From the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory comes a $34 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for L-3 Wescam’s MX series of 15-inch and 20-inch EO/IR sensor turrets. Deliveries begin immediately and are intended for use in the airborne reconnaissance low and persistent threat detection system (PTDS) programs. ARL is a multi-sensor reconnaissance system based on a de Havilland Canada Dash 7 platform, known by the designation EO-5C. PTDS is a tethered aerostat system.

The Wescam division has also been chosen to provide imaging systems for the interoperable Griffon reconnaissance escort surveillance system (INGRESS) for the Canadian forces’ Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters. INGRESS will be supplied from later this year in two configurations, one for ISR operations and one for escort. The system is based on Wescam’s MX-15 True HD stabilized cameras, along with recorders, displays, moving map displays and video downlinks.

In other L-3 news released this week, the company announced the creation of a Wescam service center at Cairns, Queensland, in partnership with Cobham Aviation Australia. The center will provide maintenance for both civil and military Wescam customers in the Asia-Pacific region. Wescam will also be able to support its European customers better with the addition of improved services at its UK-based service center, operated by the Defence Support Group. A collimator and pixel mapping station are being added to the existing center, with additional staff.

Another company division, L-3 Display Systems, announced a follow-on order from Saab for 100 multi-function displays for ongoing Gripen work. L-3 Communications has already supplied more than 500 such displays.