COM DEV Awarded AIS Micro-Satellite Contract with Canadian Government

Mission will support Canadian sovereignty, safety, security and

communications needs

CAMBRIDGE, ON, June 23 /CNW/ - COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX: CDV.TO), a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, announced today that it has been awarded an $8.6 million contract to design, build and launch a micro-satellite for the Government of Canada. The Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Micro-satellite (M3MSat) is a technology demonstration mission jointly funded and managed by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The spacecraft will support Canadian sovereignty, security, safety and communications needs within the territorial and maritime regions of Canada and beyond.

M3MSat will make use of the multi-mission micro-satellite bus concept recently defined by the CSA. COM DEV has announced the commencement of an internally funded program to develop a class of micro-satellites capable of meeting the CSA's objective of launching a range of missions using a common platform.

M3MSat is expected to demonstrate the full capability of advanced spaced-based AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology developed by COM DEV. AIS signals are broadcast from the world's major marine vessels for navigation and identification purposes, but currently they are only collected by other ships and land-based receivers within a 50 nautical mile range. Collection of the signals from space using COM DEV's unique AIS technology, which exceeds the performance of any other known system, would enable an unprecedented global view of the world's shipping traffic.

A secondary communications payload will be operated on M3MSat to demonstrate a range of low data rate applications that can support Canadian civil needs as well as commercial requirements. The micro-satellite is expected to be launched in 2010.

"We believe micro-satellites will prove to be a very useful platform for meeting some of the fundamental national priorities of a country like Canada, where geography dictates that many applications are more effectively undertaken from space than they can be from the ground," said John Keating, CEO of COM DEV International Ltd. "We are very excited to be involved at the beginning stages of the CSA's micro-satellite initiative as well as DRDC's space systems R&D effort, and we view our selection for this mission as an important endorsement of our AIS technology."

About COM DEV

COM DEV International Ltd. (www.comdevintl.com) is a leading global designer and manufacturer of space hardware subsystems. With facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, COM DEV manufactures advanced products and subsystems that are sold to major satellite prime contractors for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and military satellites.

COM DEV, COM DEV International Products, COM DEV USA and COM DEV Europe are registered trademarks of COM DEV International Ltd. 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.

Contacts

Gary Calhoun
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (519) 622-2300 ext. 2826
Fax: (519) 622-2158
gary.calhoun@comdev.ca

Jeff Codispodi
The Equicom Group
Tel: (416) 815-0700 ext. 261
Fax: (416) 815-0080
jcodispodi@equicomgroup.com