L-3 performing depot-level maintenance on F/A-18s

NEW YORK, March 14 (UPI) -- L-3 Communications is to conduct depot-level maintenance on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 A/B/C/D aircraft, the company announced.

The maintenance work, to be conducted at company facilities in Texas and Canada, will give the Navy additional capacity to perform structural life-extension modifications and inspections on the jets.

"L-3 is honored to be selected by the U.S. Navy to conduct F/A-18 A/B/C/D life-extension and depot maintenance support work to help increase the Navy's number of Ready-For-Tasking aircraft," said Mark Von Schwarz, president of L-3's Aerospace Systems business segment, which includes the MAS and Platform Integration divisions.

"By combining Platform Integration's naval aviation experience with MAS's world-class F/A-18 life-extension and depot maintenance expertise, L-3 demonstrates its ability to differentiate itself through collaborative capabilities in applying experience, performance and innovation to help a longtime valued customer achieve its goals."

L-3's Platform Integration division in Waco, Texas, will serve as the prime contractor. L-3 MAS in Quebec, Canada, will be responsible for inspection and modification of the aircraft structure and associated engineering support.

The terms of the U.S. Navy contract -- including monetary value and performance period -- were not disclosed.