L-3 Communications announced today that its Cincinnati Electronics subsidiary has been selected by Alliant Techsystems to provide the avionics subsystem and components for NASA's Ares I launch vehicle. This approximately $65 million program effort will run through June 2014. ATK is serving as the prime contractor for the first stage of the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle.

L-3's efforts in the Design, Development, Test & Evaluation phase include design, development, qualification, certification, acceptance and delivery of Ares I First Stage Avionics Subsystem (AS) Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). The First Stage LRUs L-3 is responsible for include the Booster Control Unit, Power Distribution Unit, Data Acquisition/Recorder Unit, Data Recovery Unit, Hydraulic Power Unit Controller, Ignition Separation Controller and the Recovery Control Unit.

"We are extremely pleased to have been selected by Alliant Techsystems to participate in this important new program for NASA's Ares I Launch Vehicle," said Dr. Jim Wimmers, President of L-3 CE. "This selection demonstrates ATK's confidence in L-3 as a key supplier of avionics technology."

NASA is developing hardware and systems for the Ares family of launch vehicles, which will send future astronauts into orbit. Built on proven launch technologies, Ares launch vehicles are the essential core of a safe, reliable, cost-effective space transportation system to carry crewed missions to the moon, Mars and out into the solar system.

Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket configuration topped by the Orion crew exploration vehicle and its launch abort system. In addition to the vehicle's primary mission -- carrying crews of four astronauts to rendezvous with the Ares V Earth departure stage in Earth orbit for missions to the moon -- Ares I may also use its 25-ton payload capacity to deliver resources and supplies to the International Space Station, or to "park" payloads in orbit for retrieval by other spacecraft bound for the moon or other destinations.

About L-3 Communications

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.