T2CAS Selected by U.S. Customs Service; ACSS Safety Avionics Package Includes TAWS, TCAS and Mode S/IFF for P-3 Aircraft.

Business Editors & Aerospace/Aviation Writers

NOTE TO EDITORS: The number 2 in the product name "T2CAS" should be read as superscript.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2002

Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS), an L-3 Communications & Thales Company, today announced that the U.S. Customs Service has purchased 16 ship-sets of T2CAS(TM), a combined Terrain and Traffic Collision Avoidance System, and the Mode S/IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) transponder for P-3 aircraft on order from Raytheon Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss.

The equipment will be installed in both the standard and Airborne Early Warning variants of the Customs Service's P-3 fleet.

U.S. Customs has joined a growing list of customers who have selected T2CAS, which includes Northwest Airlines, Federal Express, Aeromexico and Virgin Express.

Unlike other TAWS (Terrain Awareness Warning System) products, T2CAS is a true terrain avoidance system that bases its operator alerts on an aircraft's actual ability to climb at a given moment - not based on predetermined computations. T2CAS also reduces weight, power consumption, space requirements, and wiring because it's a combined TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System) and TAWS solution. This allows the more than 6,000 TCAS 2000 customers to simply swap out the TCAS box for the new T2CAS box and use existing power and wiring.

"We're thrilled that the U.S. Customs Service selected T2CAS and Mode S/IFF for their P-3 aircraft," said Joe Hoffman, president of ACSS. "These products deliver the highest level of situational awareness for U.S. Customs' surveillance crews and incorporate the industry's finest TAWS, TCAS and Mode S technology for civil and military flight operations."

The Mode S/IFF is a full-featured transponder implementing all the currently defined Mode S and IFF functions, including DO181B Enhanced Surveillance, GPS position, velocity, Flight ID extended squitter with built-in growth for IFF Mode 5.

ACSS (Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems), an L-3 Communications & Thales Company, is a leader in safety avionics systems. ACSS products include the TCAS 2000 and TCAS 1500 traffic alert and collision avoidance systems, a family of Mode S transponders, the T2CAS, a combined traffic and terrain collision avoidance system, and MASS, an enhanced TCAS system for military operations. More than 8,000 units of ACSS's TCAS products are operating in commercial, corporate and military aircraft. To learn more about ACSS, please visit the company's web site at www.L-3com.com/acss.

Headquartered in Velizy (France), Thales Avionics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thales, is the European leader and world-renowned partner in avionics and cabin electronics and a world leader in professional electronics for civil and defense markets. To learn more about Thales Avionics, please visit the company's web site at www.thales-avionics.com.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading merchant supplier of secure communications systems and products, avionics and ocean products, training products, microwave components and telemetry, instrumentation, space and wireless products. Its customers include the Department of Defense, selected U.S. government intelligence agencies, aerospace prime contractors and commercial telecommunications and wireless customers. To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit the company's web site at www.L-3Com.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-looking Statements included in the company's recent filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.