San Diego-based General Atomics (GA) said Thursday that it would acquire defense and aerospace contractor Miltec Corporation from Ducommun Incorporated under terms that were not announced.
Miltec, which is based in Huntsville, Ala., will be part of the Electromagnetic Systems group (EMS), said GA in a statement. The company is involved in design, development integration and test services that will expand GA's presence in hypersonic vehicles, small satellites and related products, GA said.
It also gives the company a greater presence in Huntsville, which is a key center of U.S. defense and aerospace development.
GA said earlier this week that it had been awarded multiple contracts to deliver Radiation Monitoring Systems to support nuclear power plants that are required to install reliable radiation monitors and Hardened Containment Vent Systems (HCVS) at plants with boiling water reactors (BWR) with Mark I and II containments per post-Fukushima Daiichi safety recommendations.
There are currently 27 U.S. BWRs that require HCVS modification, GA said. To date, GA-EMS has received RMS orders for installation in 18 units in U.S. power plants. In addition, GA said, the company is evaluating foreign nuclear power plants that are seeking to install HCVS to align themselves with Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidelines.
Customers are looking for reliable systems that meet requirements for post-Fukushima Daiichi safety standards for both new and currently operating plants, said GA-EMS vice president of Global Commercial Strategic Development Dr. Vivek Lall.
The HCVS and radiation monitoring systems allows plant operators to open vents, release pressure and monitor radioactivity to prevent and mitigate core damage and containment failure. In the event of an emergency, the systems are able to minimize danger and project public health and safety, GA said.