The anticipated value of the contract over its ten-year life is in excess of $300 million, with a first order value of approximately $24 million. "This award from the U.S. Army confirms that our recent acquisition of CyTerra has been strategic to the continued success of expanding L-3's product offering to military markets," noted Michael T. Strianese, interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer of L-3 Communications.

"Additionally, L-3 CyTerra will also prove to be a key building block in the expansion of L-3's homeland security offerings." L-3 acquired CyTerra on March 3, 2006.

As U.S. troops continue to operate in one of the world's most heavily mined regions, the United States Army will now have the most capable mine detector equipment ever deployed. Unlike earlier generations of equipment that relied on metal detection alone, the AN/PSS-14 combines metal detection with ground penetrating radar. Weighing only nine pounds, the unit detects both metallic and low-metallic anti-personnel and anti-tank mines in all types of soil.

"We are committed to continuing our work with the Army and the Department of Defense to put this new equipment in the hands of our soldiers as quickly as possible," said Craig Coy, president and chief operating officer of the L-3 Homeland Security Group.

"Mine detection is one of the riskiest procedures in the military, and this technology significantly improves the speed and safety of mine clearance operations for U.S. soldiers. The accelerated deployment of the system means that we will be able to provide our ground troops with the most sophisticated equipment available today."

David Fine, president of L-3 CyTerra added, "Our technology dramatically enhances the capability of our soldiers to readily find and locate buried mines in all types of soil and terrain. We're proud of our partnership with the Army, which has worked so aggressively to develop this breakthrough mine detection technology."

The AN/PSS-14 was developed under the U.S. Army's Hand-held Standoff Mine Detection System (HSTAMIDS) program. It will be used in conjunction with other mine clearing tools, such as heavy equipment fitted with special plows, and the strategic use of counter-explosives.

The lightweight AN/PSS-14, which folds up into a compact package, allows soldiers to easily operate the system while clearing minefields. The unit has been shown in U.S. Army trials to be capable of detecting nearly 100% of mines in all terrain, with a minimum of false alarms.

To date, L-3 CyTerra has already delivered more than 2,000 AN/PSS-14 Mine Detecting Sets to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps on a previous contract, and partners with Tobyhanna Army Depot support and training for the units worldwide.

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