AEROSPACE

Whittaker May Sell Defense Unit, Spin Off Communications: Simi Valley-based Whittaker Corp. has held talks with a major defense company, Chief Executive Thomas Brancati said. He declined to mention the company by name or to put a value on the transaction. Brancati stressed that the company is “not actively engaged” in trying to sell the defense unit, saying that the company had been approached about it. He also said that spinning off the communications business is only one option being considered. The company employs about 1,000 and had sales last year of $159 million.