Acquisitive L-3 Communications is to buy US infrared sensor supplier Cincinatti Electronics from Canada's CMC Electronics for $172 million and electro-optical system specialist Brashear for $36 million, both in cash deals.

Cincinatti Electronics has entered a long-term agreement to continue supplying infrared detectors for CMC's enhanced vision system, under development for initial application on the Bombardier Global Express business jet.

The Cincinatti, Ohio-based firm also makes the AAR-44 missile warning system as well as space electronics.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Brashear, meanwhile, makes laser ranging and tracking systems, and recently delivered the flight turret ball for the US Air Force's Boeing 747-based YAL-1 Airborne Laser prototype.

New York-based L-3, with 2003 sales of just over $5 billion, acquired half a dozen companies last year at a cost of morethan $1 billion. Already this yearthe company has purchasedsmall-arms training firm Beamhit for $40 million.

Source: Flight International