Beverly Hills, California-based electronics conglomerate Litton Industries Inc has bought FiberCom Inc, privately-held Roanoke, Virginia pioneer of fibre optic communications and local network systems for the defence, intelligence and commercial aviation markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed but FiberCom, founded in 1982, will remain in Roanoke as an operation of Litton’s Poly-Scientific division in nearby Blacksburg. The new company will add about $25m in annual sales. FiberCom is claimed to be strong in the design, engineering and integration of complex fibre optic systems, including local area networks for commercial aircraft, ground to air data communications, cabin management and in-flight entertainment. Litton says it plans to retain essentially all of FiberCom’s 190 or so employees.
