French Navy Maritime Patrol Selects EMS SATCOM Broadband for Video, High-Speed Data and Voice on Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft

20 July 2006

EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), and Eclipse, reported today that the French Navy ("Marine Nationale") has selected a team composed of France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications and Eclipse to provide the EMS SATCOM eNfusion Broadband(tm) High-Speed Data solution for six of its Maritime Patrol aircraft, with an option for two more. The overall value of the project to equip the Atlantique II and Falcon-50 aircraft is $6.0 million, and the value of EMS SATCOM's portion of the project is worth approximately $2.3 million. This represents a collaborative effort between Eclipse and France Telecom to provide EMS SATCOM systems, airtime, and post-sales support to Marine Nationale with a fixed monthly-fee financing package over five years.

"Commercial off-the-shelf solutions are gaining significant popularity with the military," says Eclipse General Manager, Marc Pinault. "And Marine Nationale is no exception. They defined specific requirements, and we are confident France Telecom and Eclipse will be able to deliver, primarily as a result of this collaboration, but also because of the COTS equipment. With the EMS SATCOM system, the end-user has a complete solution for all components, on multiple platforms, under one roof."

The French program, called Aviasat, is the first large-scale European program for maritime surveillance with this network-centric operational functionality, putting the aircraft's communications system on par with even the most technologically advanced aircraft manufactured today. The Atlantique II and the Falcon-50 aircraft that form part of the fleet, many of which have been flying for more than 15 years, will deploy EMS SATCOM eNfusion Broadband(tm) equipment. Marine Nationale Falcon-50 and Atlantique aircraft fly in maritime patrol missions and require video, data and voice capabilities to fulfill mission requirements. It is Marine Nationale's objective to develop capabilities that are more compatible with its network-centric operations strategy. Eclipse, acting as the project manager, will work with Marine Nationale to ensure that the systems are operational on a rapid deployment schedule. Six aircraft will be equipped within the next two years.

"We are enthusiastic about our participation in this project because it has a number of facets to it," commented Neil Mackay, Senior Vice President and General Manager at EMS SATCOM. "Not only does it involve the delivery of our high-speed data, video and voice capabilities, but also special financing arrangements and a leasing agreement to specifically fit Marine Nationale's requirements. Working with Eclipse and EMS SATCOM, Marine Nationale will have access to the vital communications it needs -- virtually worldwide, with an upgrade path for SwiftBroadband capabilities."

More about the Solution

France Telecom and Eclipse will provide airtime, support, and a finance package to meet Maritime Nationale's mission requirements. The eNfusion Broadband high-speed data system provides all of the required capabilities as a COTS product. The solution includes the EMS SATCOM eNfusion HSD-400 High-Speed Data terminal -- delivering voice, data and safety services in 1 LRU (line replaceable unit) package; either the EMS SATCOM eNfusion AMT-50 high-gain antenna (for Falcon-50 aircraft) or the EMS SATCOM eNfusion AMT-3800 high-gain antenna (for Atlantique II aircraft), and EMS SATCOM's CNX(r) Cabin Gateway networking device. SwiftBroadband-ready, the solution will provide two channels of this service (up to 492 kbps per channel) once the Inmarsat I-4 satellite network is fully operational.

About Eclipse

Founded in 1996, Eclipse is a Paris-based company dedicated to aeronautical land-mobile and Maritime IT, and integrated solutions. The company delivers integrated solutions to its customers including avionics, antennas, networking, video, and satellite air time, while also providing flight planning mission systems, electronic flight bag, and consulting services.

The exclusive distributor of SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunication Aeronautiques) for Inmarsat Satcom air time for military & government aero customers, the company is also the Official Aeronautical Partner worldwide for France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC). The company provides the French MOD Inmarsat aero air time for all French Defense Aircrafts and Helicopters (From Aero C to future SB), and also provides the French MOD complete flight planning mission system for its all- transport aircrafts. For more information about Eclipse, contact Marc Pinault at 33 (0)1 56 34 27 13.

About EMS SATCOM

EMS SATCOM, based in Ottawa, Canada, specializes in the design and development of satellite-based terminals and antennas for the aeronautical, ground-mobile, maritime and emergency management markets. As the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Command and Control Enabling Technology of the Year award winner, the division is a leader in developing and supplying high-speed data communications equipment for enabling vital communications resources such as voice, e-mail and Internet capabilities to a broad variety of aircraft.

EMS SATCOM is a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions.

For more information, visit the Company's website at www.emssatcom.com

Note To Editors: Visit EMS SATCOM at the Farnborough Airshow -- Canadian Pavilion, Hall 4, Booth C17/E or visit our online press room at www.emssatcom.com/farnborough2006. Reporters can find images for this press release on www.emssatcom.com/farnborough2006/downloads.

CONTACT: EMS SATCOM

Kate Murchison, Public Relations

+1 613 727 6277 X1415

Mobile: +1 613 286 5235

murchison.k@emssatcom.com

ECLIPSE

Marc Pinault, General Manager

+33 1 56 34 27 13

marc.pinault@eclipse-services.com

Source: primezone