L-3 Criminal Probe Expanded

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Investigation into the distribution of defective military radio parts grows in scope.

The US Attorney's office in Los Angeles has been investigating quality control problems at the defense contractor, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Defective parts and circuit boards seized from a L-3 Communications Holdings unit, Interstate Electronics Corporation, may indicate the problem is more widespread than first thought.

Some defective electronics may have made their way into the Raytheon-developed Army Excalibur artillery shell and the Navy's Extended Range Guided Munition.

An Interstate spokesman stated the company has no knowledge of an investigation beyond that of the radios. L-3 did not manufacture any of the suspect parts, but was the entity that purchased them from two other California firms.

Per the Defense Contract Management Agency, substandard parts may have been used between 2002 and 2004.