His Royal Highness Visits Global Designer and Manufacturer of Space Hardware

COM DEV Europe welcomed His Royal Highness The Duke of York to their Stoke Mandeville facility.

The Managing Director of the company, Rob Spurrett, said "I was very surprised and pleased when The Duke of York chose to come and visit us. It is a great tribute to the staff of the company that their endeavours in this challenging high-technology field have been recognised. Twenty-five years of successful exports does not happen by accident." Last year over 80% of COM DEV's revenue was for the export market.

His Royal Highness is keen to celebrate the UK's long standing and proud involvement in Science and Engineering and believes that the UK is the best place in the world for Science and Engineering.

COM DEV has been designing, manufacturing and testing equipment and components for satellites in Buckinghamshire for over twenty-five years. The space industry is one of the hidden technology export successes of the UK and employs over 80,000 people in the country and is estimated to contribute over GBP8bn to the UKs GDP.

Most people know of the occasional NASA mission that makes the news headlines but few people realise that around 100 spacecraft are launched each year and they provide vital commercial services that industry and the general public rely upon. The weather forecast before they head to work; the GPS navigation to find their way; the timing coordination of their cash withdrawals; the telecommunications systems they use during the day and satellite broadcast television in the evening are all examples of how space has permeated our every day lives.

The Duke of York came to see the facility and to hear about COM DEV's export successes. Over the last three years the number of employees has doubled and COM DEV has supplied equipment to space projects all over the world.

His Royal Highness was introduced to several of COM DEV's designers who are working on projects such as next generation communications spacecraft, the European navigation system, Galileo, and instruments that will be used to monitor the earth's resources from space.

As part of The Duke of York's interest in young people, His Royal Highness met some of COM DEV's graduate trainees who have been going through COM DEV's training programme. They get the opportunity to experience different aspects of the space industry from fundamental design work on equipment that had to survive operation for up to 18 years in the vacuum of space, through to the planning of manufacturing work where equipment has to be proven to be as reliable as possible. There is no possibility of repairing equipment once launched!

Operations Director, Craig Molford showed His Royal Highness the manufacturing and test facilities, including the Vibration Test Facility that was testing one piece of electronics equipment destined for a US mission. The item being tested was being subject to severe vibration intended to simulate the conditions of launch on a rocket.

About COM DEV Europe

COM DEV Europe (CDE) is subsidiary of COM DEV International (TSX: CDV), a leading global provider of space hardware and services. CDE was formed in 1986 and has produced equipment for 86 satellite programmes and is part of a vibrant UK Space Industry which has been growing at 8% per year over recent years. At its facility near Aylesbury CDE designs, builds and tests complex electronics and microwave equipment for Earth Observation, Telecommunications and Navigation satellites.

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in any forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that, among other things, in view of the rapid changes in communications markets and technologies, and other risks including the cost and market acceptance of the Company's new products, the level of individual customer procurements and competitive product offerings and pricing, and general economic circumstances, the Company's business prospects may be materially different from forward-looking statements made by the Company.

The triangular logo and the word COM DEV are each registered trademarks and the property of COM DEV Ltd. All rights reserved.

Image with caption: "His Royal Highness Prince Andrew visits COM DEV Europe in Aylesbury to see engineers at work on the latest equipment soon to be launched into space (CNW Group/Com Dev International Ltd.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120327_C8233_PHOTO_EN_11605.jpg

For further information:
Rob Goldsmith
Business Development Director
COM DEV Europe
Tel:  +44-1296-616420
rob.goldsmith@comdev.co.uk

Gary Calhoun
Chief Financial Officer
COM DEV International
Tel:  +1-519-622-2300 ext. 2826
gary.calhoun@comdev.ca

Jeff Codispodi
The Equicom Group
Tel: +1-416-815-0700 ext. 261
jcodispodi@equicomgroup.com

TSX: CDV.

SOURCE COM DEV International