Rockwell Collins acquires flight simulation firm

Rockwell Collins Inc. has completed its acquisition of NLX LLC, a Sterling, Va.-based company that builds flight simulators and training systems, for $125 million in cash. It is the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based company's ninth acquisition in six years.

Rockwell Collins provides aviation electronics and communications systems to aircraft manufacturers, airlines and military customers. It plans to integrate NLX's simulation and training systems into its Aviation Services. The move adds breadth to Rockwell Collins's services business, which company officials cite as a growth area.

NLX provides training systems and services for military and commercial platforms, including the Bombardier Challenger 300 simulator, the Army's Lift Simulator Modernization Program, the Navy's P-3C Visual System Modifications, and the Black Hawk Flight Simulator for the National Guard.

In August, NLX won the Army Stryker Maintenance Training System Program contract, valued at $13.5 million. The company has 650 employees and 2002 revenue of nearly $78 million.

With 2002 revenue of $2.5 billion, Rockwell Collins is ranked No. 38 on Washington Technology's 2003 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue. NLX is ranked No. 31 on Washington Technology's 2003 Fast 50 list, which measures the fastest growing small business government contractors. From 1998 to 2002, NLX had a compound annual growth rate of 62.5 percent.