MDA wins strategic contract to provide communication satellite hosted payload solution

MacDonald , Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (“MDA” or the “Company”) (TSX:MDA), a global communications and information company, today announced that it has signed a contract valued in excess of CA$30 million with Aselsan Electronic Industries Inc. (Aselsan), to provide an X-band communication hosted payload solution.

Aselsan is Turkey’s leading space and defence company, and prime contractor for the construction of the Turksat 6A X-Band payload, which is scheduled to provide government and other communication services once it is launched in 2018.

Leveraging the long-term experience of MDA’s Montreal facility with L, C, Ka, Ku and X band payloads for communication satellite subsystems, MDA and Aselsan will co-develop a unique X-Band communication hosted payload solution. This solution has the potential to open new international government and defence communication market opportunities.

Joanna Boshouwers , the general manager responsible for MDA’s communications business in Montreal said, “Like many other rapidly developing countries with a vast territory, Turkey has an increasing demand for satellite communication solutions and a strong desire to engage its domestic industry to help meet this demand. This project is a great example of a cooperative approach between MDA and domestic industry to meet a country’s satellite communication objectives.  We are working on using the same approach to expand the number of space-related opportunities within Turkey , as well as in other similar markets.”

About MDA

MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide.

MDA’s business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.

MDA’s established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 11 locations in the United States , Canada , and internationally.

The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “MDA.”