NEW YORK, March 17 -- L-3 Communications announced that its Integrated Systems subsidiary was awarded a contract with a basic funding ceiling of $411 million to provide the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) with airborne mission support for ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) test requirements over a five-year period. The value of the initial delivery order is approximately $16 million. The primary mission of the airborne sensor (ABS) mission operations program is to provide airborne electro-optic and infrared sensor capabilities to support the MDA and other test activities. The ABS program directs the design, development, integration, test, operation, maintenance, improvements, modernization, mission support and data reduction and analysis activities for three types of aircraft: two high-altitude observatory (HALO-I/II) aircraft, modified Gulfstream IIB aircraft and the widebody airborne sensor program (WASP)-modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft. The program scope also includes any future aircraft and mission equipment required to support MDA test and assessment activities. Those aircraft can be configured with a variety of sensors to support BMDS test data collection efforts. The ABS program also provides quick-turn mission data analysis and reporting to ensure that test data gets to key organizations in a timely manner. L-3's Aeromet subsidiary, based in Tulsa, Okla., will manage the program. L-3 Aeromet currently operates the two Gulfstream IIB aircraft under a predecessor contract and has supported more than 180 missions. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, based in Greenville, Texas, develops electronic systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It operates from sites in Austin and Waco, Texas; Madison, Miss.; Lexington, Ky.; Tulsa, Okla.; Newport News, Va.; and Avalon, Australia. For more information, visit: www.L-3Com.com