SAN DIEGO, CA, November 7, 2007 — Telemetry-West
(L-3 Telemetry-West), a division of L-3 Communications,
announced today that after supporting Astrium’s
successful launch and initialization of Skynet 5A for
the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), its I4Ssatellite command
and control software is now operational in both the Skynet
4 and Skynet 5 Satellite Control Centres (SCCs). The
I4S system is based on L-3 Telemetry-West’s InControl software
suite integrated with Inmarsat’s in-house-developed
software. InControl is a robust system
leveraging many years of operational satellite support
and is specifically designed to support satellite fleets
of heterogeneous spacecraft. Having supported the
launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) for Skynet 5A, I4S
will continue to support the on-station operations for
both Skynet 4 and Skynet 5.
“This achievement demonstrates the continued success
of InControl as the leading software system
for the safe and efficient monitoring and control of
satellite fleets,” said Burt Smith, President of
L-3 Telemetry-West. “We are delighted to
continue our successful relationship with Astrium on
this important and strategic program.”
“Astrium is firmly committed to leveraging commercial
systems into the military arena, capitalizing on sophisticated
functionality at affordable prices without compromise
to any military values,” said Colin Paynter, Managing
Director of Astrium. “The launch and early
orbit phase is a crucial part of the mission. It
is vital we have software systems that are completely
reliable and in which we can have absolute faith. The
L-3 InControl software suite, integrated with
the Inmarsat real-time kernel, gives us a system that
manages the LEOP phase very effectively and then transitions
smoothly to routine operations with the same system.”
The Skynet 4 and 5 installations add to the number of
SCCs L-3 Telemetry-West and Inmarsat support throughout
the UK. These systems provide secure communications
for the UK’s armed forces, with Skynet 5 significantly
expanding this role.
Key features of the InControl software suite
include routine satellite fleet and ground station control,
use of flexible open system standards, such as CORBA,
Java and UNIX, and single or multiple operator control
of multiple entities. Archiving, archive retrieval
and data analysis are also integrated within the functionality.
Skynet services have been taken over from the UK MoD
by Paradigm Secure Communications. Building on
Skynet 4’s existing telecommunications capabilities,
Skynet 5 delivers a secure global communications infrastructure. The
program provides a range of services that are used by
the UK's armed forces, government departments and other
agencies and organizations requiring secure communications. These
services are also available to approved defense and other
governmental users from overseas countries and multinational
organizations.
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile
satellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat
has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data
communications to governments, enterprises and other
organizations with a range of services that can be used
on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services
are delivered through a world-class network of leading
telecom groups. The company is quoted on the London
Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol “ISAT.” More
information can be found at www.inmarsat.com.
EADS Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is
dedicated to providing civil and defense space systems
and services. In 2006, Astrium had a turnover of €3.2
billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the
United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its
three main areas of activity are: the business units
Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital
infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for the spacecraft
and ground segment and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium
Services for the development and delivery of satellite
services. The Paradigm team is contained within
Astrium Services. EADS is a global
leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In
2006, EADS generated revenues of €39.4
billion and employed a workforce of more than 116,000. To
learn more about Astrium, please visit the company’s
web site at www.astrium-space.com.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs
over 63,000 people worldwide and is a prime system contractor
in aircraft modernization and maintenance, C3ISR
(Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance) systems and government services. L-3
is also a leading provider of high technology products,
systems and subsystems. The company reported 2006
sales of $12.5 billion.
To learn more about L-3, 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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