Whittaker to Increase Payroll After Acquisition

Whittaker Electronic Systems of Simi Valley expects to increase its payroll by 10% as a result of the previously announced acquisition of Dowti Avionics, an Arcadia producer of aircraft control systems.

About 50 Dowti employees will move to the Whittaker facility, bringing total employment there to 550, according to Tom Brancati, Whittaker Electronic president. He said he expects the merger to add $8 million to Whittaker Electronic’s revenues.

Annual sales at the company, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Whittaker Corp., now range between $55 million and $60 million.

Brancati said he expects further expansion from Army orders for equipment designed to “confuse” enemy field artillery. The equipment was first used during Operation Desert Storm, he said.