Joint Cargo Aircraft Training Mission Expands to Robins Air Force Base

ATLANTA, December 10, 2009 – Governor Perdue announced today Robins Air Force Base (RAFB) in Warner Robins will be the new home for the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) Program Training Mission.

'The expansion of the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft Program Training Mission is an exciting announcement for middle Georgia,' said Governor Sonny Perdue. 'Georgia has a highly educated, highly motivated workforce providing trained workers from our many state programs, colleges and universities. This level of training and experience has made Georgia a leader in the aerospace industry.'

The training program was previously housed at an interim site in Waco, Texas.  Forty-one direct aerospace industry jobs will be created with the expansion of this training mission to RAFB.  The JCA Training Mission will also benefit the local economy in middle Georgia as nearly 200 military personnel from around the world are scheduled to train at RAFB over the next five years.

'The expansion of this training mission is yet another step forward for the aerospace, aviation and aeronautics industries in Georgia,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  'As one of Georgia's strategically targeted industries, the aerospace sector will uniquely benefit from the highly-trained workers who will matriculate through this program.'

The construction of the $1.8 million JCA Training Mission at RAFB represents a partnership between the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, the Houston County Development Authority, the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority, the City of Warner Robins and Crawford County.  The C-27J JCA industry team is led by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3/IS).  The training center is scheduled to be fully operational by 2011.

'The commitment of the entire Middle Georgia community to this partnership has been important in its success,' said James Burkhardt, president of L-3's Platform Integration division. 'The training center becoming operational is an important milestone as we prepare C-27J JCA crews for testing and deployment.'

As a leader in the aerospace industry, Georgia is home to more than 500 global aerospace-related companies, with numerous aircraft suppliers based in Houston County and the surrounding region.  The expansion of the JCA Training Mission and the growth of aerospace in Georgia are supported by the state's education system, which has helped provide a steady pipeline of trained workers for aerospace firms in Georgia.

'The location of the C-27J School House at Robins AFB is a great addition to the Base and the community.  The community, state and L-3 partnership to welcome the new mission and assist with the School House development should assure it remains an asset to the Base and the community for years to come,' said Major General William Nesbitt, the Adjutant General of Georgia.  'The C-27J also provides the ideal platform for movement of critical, time sensitive, mission essential personnel and equipment the 'last tactical mile' on the battlefield as well as an important capability to the National Guard for domestic missions.'

'This project represents another example of the world class partnership between the Robins Region and the Base,' said Houston County Development Authority Chairman Neal Talton.   'We are grateful for the new mission with its associated jobs and appreciate the City of Warner Robins, the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority and Crawford County for joining with the Houston County Development Authority to support locating this mission at Robins AFB.'

Robins Air Force Base is Georgia's largest industrial employer with approximately 27,000 employees and a total economic impact of more than $4.2 billion.  The existing infrastructure and mission support systems in place at RAFB uniquely position the base as the most suitable location for the training program expansion.

About L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) develops and integrates defense and commercial technology for U.S. and allied customers worldwide. L-3 IS has more than five decades of experience in the development of complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; command and control; and secure communications. It is recognized internationally as a systems integration organization specializing in the modernization and maintenance of aircraft of all sizes. It is a leader in advanced technologies for signal processing, electronic countermeasures, sensor development and aircraft self-protection. Systems provided or maintained by L-3 IS help protect military and civilian personnel, bases, assets and national borders throughout the world.