RICHMOND, BC, Oct. 2, 2013 /CNW/ - MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA" or the "Company") (TSX: MDA), a global communications and information company, announced today that it has started work under two Authorizations to Proceed, totaling approximately CA$2.5 million, to provide key systems on the European Space Agency's (ESA) flagship ExoMars program. The work is expected to total approximately CA$17.5 million and go to contract in 2014.

MDA will be working with Astrium, Thales Alenia Space España and Thales Alenia Space Italia (ExoMars Prime Contractor).  MDA's contribution is on the drive system which is critical for safe deployment of the rover on landing and for the rover to manoeuvre and negotiate steep slopes, large obstacles and the sandy Martian terrain.  The rover's primary task will be to search for evidence of life, past or present, beneath the surface of the Red Planet.

"After landing on the Martian surface it will be MDA's contribution that gets the mission rolling to undertake surface operations," said Don Osborne, Vice President responsible for this business at MDA.

This mission builds on MDA's heritage and development efforts on the past four surface missions to Mars.

A longstanding cooperation agreement between ESA and Canada provides Canadian industry with access and opportunities to compete for ESA contracts. The Government of Canada's commitment to international partnerships helps enable Canadian companies to provide signature technologies for international flagship missions like ExoMars 2018.

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. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.

MDA's well-established global customer base is served by more than 4,500 employees operating from 11 offices located in the United States, Canada, and internationally.

The Company's common shares trade under the symbol TSX: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 issuance of authorizations to proceed under 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, policies, funding levels, contracts, subcontracts and regulations; partial or complete mission failure; failure of third parties or subcontractors to adequately perform; failure to anticipate changes in technology, technical standards and offerings or to comply with the requisite standards.

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 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.