International Signal and Control
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
International Signal and Control (ISC) was a U.S. defense contractor based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that was involved in the manufacture of electronic missile subassemblies, navigation components, fuses, power supplies for proximity fuses, and grenade technology. The company had manufactured sub assemblies for the Shrike and Sparrow missile in 1974, and just after the Vietnam war, which was part of a standard arms contract for the US defense administration.
The company also had a commercial repair facility of two meter portable HAM/ amateur radios from a company in New Jersey called Clegg and, manufactured communication helmet radios for firemen, and electromic outdoor bug zappers.
ISC was involved in two major indiscretions, for which CEO James Guerin received a 15-year prison sentence:
- It defrauded by $1.14B and caused the collapse of the British company Ferranti, which acquired it in 1987.
- It exported classified military technology to South Africa, which was then forwarded to third countries, notably Iraq, and to China.
[edit] Exports to South Africa and Iraq
ISC technology, principally weapons fuses, and were exported to Iraq via South Africa, allegedly1 with the knowledge of U.S. intelligence agencies and in violation of United States and United Nations sanctions. U.S. intelligence agencies were involved in the setting up of electronic listening posts in South Africa with ISC technology. In 1977 these operations were officially cancelled due to sanctions but allegedly continued.2
Another link to Iraq was the supply of the specifiations for the MK-20 Rockeye cluster bomb through Chilean defence company Carlos Cardoen, which was able to build an almost identical weapon.3
In 1992 CEO Guerin pleaded guilty to exporting classified military technology. These weapons were to aid Iraq in its fight with Iran but prosecutors at Guerin's trial alleged that some were inevitably used against U.S. and allied troops in the Gulf War.
In 1994, after Bobby Ray Inman requested to be withdrawn from consideration as Bill Clinton's first Defense Secretary, his critics speculated that the decision was motivated by a desire to downplay his links to ISC. Inman was a member of board of directors, which was allegedly either negligent or approved the exports.
[edit] Ferranti defrauding and collapse
ISC was acquired by Ferranti in 1987, which collapsed in 1993 due to the debts of its new subsidiary. International Signal and Control's CEO James Guerin was found guilty of defrauding Ferranti by inflating the order book of ISC, prior to and during the acquisition, with fictitious contracts. Ferranti was broken up and the majority of the defence businesses were purchased by GEC.
