Not to be confused with Level 3 Communications, an Internet carrier

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. () is a company that supplies command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems and products, avionics and ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space and navigation products. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Government intelligence agencies, aerospace contractors and commercial telecommunications and wireless customers.

L-3 is headquartered in New York City, New York.

History

L-3 (named for Frank Lanza, Robert LaPenta, and Lehman Brothers) was formed in 1997 from the purchase of ten former business units of Lockheed Corporation when Lockheed merged in 1996 with Martin Marietta^[1]; the ten units were those which the new Lockheed Martin was uninterested in owning.

L-3 has continued to grow since then through numerous acquisitions to become one of the top 10 US government contractors.

Business Organization

As of 2008, L-3 is organized under four business segments:

• Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C³ISR)
  • C³ISR Support Services
  • ISR Systems
  • Secure Communications
• Government Services
  • Aviation, Maritime, and Human Intelligence
  • IT and Other Solutions
  • Training and Staff Augmentation Services
• Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance (AM&M)
  • Aircraft Modernization and Support Services
  • Aviation Support Operations
• Specialized Products
  • Avionics, Displays, and Specialty Products
  • Marine and Power Systems
  • Microwave, RF, SATCOM and Antenna Products
  • Security and Detection
  • Sensors, Guidance, Navigation and Simulation

Acquisitions

2005

• L-3 acquired Titan Corp., after a failed buyout attempt by Lockheed Martin.
• L-3 purchased L-3 Communication Combat Propulsion Systems, previously owned by General Dynamics Land Systems.

2006

• L-3 acquired Crestview Aerospace, a company based in Northwest Florida. Crestview Aerospace provides aircraft structures, major airframe assemblies and military aircraft modifications for leading Prime contractors and OEMs in the aerospace industry.

Management

On June 7, 2006, L-3 CEO and co-founder Frank Lanza suffered an untimely death. CFO Michael T. Strianese was named as interim CEO, and was appointed President and CEO of the company on October 23, 2006.

Detainee Abuse

In May 2008, Emad al-Janabi sued L-3 and CACI for allowing their employees to abuse him physically and mentally at the Abu Ghraib prison.http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3hT9oyW5kEkLPBY_okhgWQUHwmgD90FNQSG0

References

• International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 48. St. James Press, 2003

External links

• L-3 corporate website
• L-3 Communications Titan Group
• L-3 Communications, Security & Detection Systems
• L-3 Communications Electron Devices
• L-3 Communications, Scandia Division

Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

• MPRI

Group on LinkedIn

• L-3 Com Linked

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