VANCOUVER, July 24, 2017 /CNW/ -  MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA" or the "Company") ( TSX:MDA), a global communications and information company, today announced that it has signed a contract amendment with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for its Geospatial Terminal Operations (GTO) requirement.  MDA will provide an additional year of software systems and services to automate the production of NGA's aeronautical charting products associated with flight operations at airports and the airspace immediately around them. This amendment is a follow-on to the contract announced in July 2014 and includes an option of four years, with a potential total value of US$4 million over the five years. 

As one of the largest aeronautical information aggregators and publishers in the world, NGA has an inventory of many thousands of airport maps and instrument flight procedure charts that depict the geospatial and navigational information pilots need to land and depart safely at airports around the world. The drafting and maintenance of these charts has traditionally been done by hand, using computer-aided drafting software. The objective of GTO is to streamline this labour-intensive process by acquiring software that automatically renders the charts directly from navigational and geospatial source data.

MDA continues to leverage expertise gained from developing aeronautical information solutions for the U.S. Air Force and the FAA and will incrementally integrate its AutoChart technology with NGA's source databases.  The contract includes a mechanism for NGA to request customizations to AutoChart to meet NGA-unique requirements.  The work will be carried out at NGA's campus in St. Louis, Missouri and at MDA's facilities.

About MDA

MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide.

MDA's business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.

MDA's established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 15 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally.

The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol " MDA."

Related Websites

www.mdacorporation.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA" or the "Company") with respect to future events and financial performance. The forward-looking statements in this regard include statements regarding the award and amendment of a contract with an intergovernmental agency. Any such forward-looking statements are based on MDA's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. The factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this release include contracts with any government or intergovernmental agency not being terminated. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. MDA cautions readers that should certain risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. The risks that could cause actual results to differ from current expectations include, but are not necessarily limited to: changes in government or intergovernmental priorities, mandates, funding levels, contracts and regulations; satellite failure; failure of third parties and subcontractors; and failure to anticipate changes in technology, technical standards and offerings or compliance with the requisite standards, or failure to maintain technological advances and offer new products to retain customers and market position.

For additional information with respect to certain of these risks or factors, plus additional risks or factors, reference should be made to the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com  or on the Company's website at www.mdacorporation.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this release.

SOURCE MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.