MDA Wins Canadian Contract with Heron UAV

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, announced today that the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has awarded a contract to MDA for a long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance solution to support the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. The surveillance solution will be operational in Afghanistan before February 2009 for a period of two years, with an option for an additional third year. The contract also includes training for the DND air vehicle and payload operators. The initial contract is valued at $95 million CAD with the third year option valued at an additional $35 million CAD. David Hargreaves, a vice president within MDA's Information Systems group, said: “This contract is a major milestone in MDA's strategy to become a significant contributor in the growing Canadian and worldwide UAV surveillance market. Our leading-edge solution is compatible and interoperable with stringent NATO standards. MDA's UAV surveillance solutions are highly complementary to our existing space-based and other surveillance and intelligence capabilities”. MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide. MDA employs more than 3,300 people in locations across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX: MDA.