MDA to build Radarsat Constellation Mission, signs $40 million contract (MDA-Radarsat-Constell)

RICHMOND, B.C. _ MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX:MDA) said Friday it has won a competition to design and build the Radarsat Constellation Mission and signed a $40-million for the first phase.

The constellation project will include three satellites, which will allow for more regular monitoring of the Canadian coast than Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2.

The first phase will take 16 months to complete and deliver the high level design, the company said.

MDA was the maker of the state-of-the-art Radarsat 2 satellite which monitors Canada's Arctic sovereignty. The company also designed and built the iconic Canadarm and Dextre robotics for the International Space Station.

MDA had struck a deal to sell its satellite and robotics division including Radarsat-2 for $1.3 billion to Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE:ATK), a U.S. defence contractor.

However, the sale was rejected by Ottawa because it gave control of Radarsat-2, a key information tracking satellite, to a foreign company.

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