Toronto-based L-3 Electronic Systems (L-3 ES), a subsidiary of L-3 Communications Corp., New York NY, recently launched a new production facility at its Toronto plant to produce cockpit display systems for military aircraft.
According to L-3, launch customer for the facility is Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, St. Louis MO, with a $105-million program to produce cockpit displays for F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft for Canada and Australia.
The facility will also produce cockpit displays for other military customers across different fixed and rotary-wing aircraft platforms.
“The launch of this dedicated military cockpit display production facility is an important step forward for L-3 ES,” Trevor Ratcliffe, L-3 ES president, says. “It demonstrates our breadth of displays manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to adding value for our customers.”
“The Boeing F/A-18 cockpit display program for Canada and Australia is also important for the growth of our military cockpit display business, providing significant, long-term industrial benefits to Ontario and Canada,” he adds.
The F/A-18 contract was announced in June 2005 and runs through December 2008.
“The partnership between government and commercial organizations from our three nations, Canada, the United States and Australia, is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the right approach is adopted by all involved,” Air Commodore Graham Bentley, Royal Australian Air Force Air Attache from the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, says. “The continued success of this program is vital to both the upgrade of Australia’s primary air combat platform, the F/A-18, and to the future air defense of Australia.”
“Having flown in an upgraded aircraft I can attest to what an excellent capability the display system provides,” he adds. “The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation and the Royal Australian Air Force have every confidence that Boeing and L-3 ES can deliver to specification, budget and schedule.”
L-3 ES will produce 647 displays for installation on Canadian and Australian F/A-18 aircraft as part of Australia’s Hornet Upgrade Program and Canada’s F/A-18 Incremental Modernization Project. These upgrades are intended to significantly improve aircraft capability, and extend the useful service life of each fleet.
L-3 ES says it has been developing advanced cockpit displays since 1978 and has delivered more than 10,000 for various military aircraft to domestic and international customers.
“Boeing selected L-3 ES for this program because of their years of innovative engineering and manufacturing expertise, and because we know they will deliver a cost competitive, best value solution,” David Beckering, Boeing F/A-18 program manager, Canada/Finland/Spain, says. “The launch of this new production facility demonstrates L-3 ES’ commitment to providing our customers with work of the highest quality.”
