L-3 Communications said its Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has been selected to receive a $21.7 million contract as part of Project HELIX, a major mission upgrade to the U.K.’s Royal Air Force Nimrod R1 electronic reconnaissance aircraft fleet. Upon approval, which is expected in June 2009, L-3 IS will be the preferred contractor to execute the Project HELIX Demonstration and Manufacture contract, which has a projected value of up to $756 million, over a seven-year period. L-3 IS was selected to carry out risk reduction studies for the HELIX Assessment Phase Stage 3, in partnership with the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The Nimrod R1 provides electronic reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering support to military commanders and is viewed as a critical component of the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance force mix. The modification work on the aircraft will be performed at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, England, with final integration and flight testing conducted in Greenville, Texas. L-3, the lead systems integrator and prime contractor, heads a team that includes QinetiQ, LogicaCMG and BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies. QinetiQ will provide electronic reconnaissance technologies and LogicaCMG will contribute ground systems, information management and security services and technologies. BAE Systems will provide aircraft modification, aircraft certification, long-term support and logistics services and some sensor technologies.