L-3 shells out $132M cash for UK aircraft training biz
- By David Hubler
- Apr 11, 2012
L-3 Communications, a Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems and government services contractor, will pay $132 million in cash to acquire Thales Ltd.’s civil aircraft unit.
Thales Training & Simulation business, of Crawley, U.K., employs approximately 400 people and manufactures commercial flight simulation equipment for global customers, according to the April 11 L-3 announcement.
Its high-tech civil aircraft simulators comply with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency and International Civil Aviation Organization regulations, the announcement said.
“With this acquisition L-3 will strengthen its existing military training and simulation business by adding full flight simulator capability and expanding into the civil simulation market,” Michael Strianese, L-3’s chairman, president and CEO, said in the statement.
When combined with its existing military training and simulation business, L-3 will offer a full range of training system solutions to military and commercial customers, he added.
Thales Training & Simulation unit will be integrated into the L-3 Link Simulation & Training organization, part of L-3’s Electronic Systems Group.
The acquisition is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2012, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
L-3 Communications Corp., of McLean, Va., ranks No. 8 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.
About the Author
David Hubler is the former print managing editor for GCN and senior editor for Washington Technology. He is freelance writer living in Annandale, Va.