Boeing to Sell Anaheim Sensor Unit to DRS for $84 Million

Boeing Co. said Friday that it has agreed to sell an Anaheim unit that designs and develops electronic sensors and systems for $84 million.

The sale to DRS Technologies Inc. of Parsippany, N.J., would affect more than 300 Boeing employees, mostly engineers, who design electronic equipment to help aircraft land on carriers as well as an optical sensor for the Hubble space telescope.

A DRS spokeswoman said the company hasn’t made any decisions about employment at the unit. Boeing said it will lease the Anaheim offices in which the engineers work.

The sensor unit, which Seattle-based Boeing acquired as part of its purchase of Rockwell’s aerospace unit, has $75 million in annual sales. Boeing said the sale is part of its plan to focus on putting together entire communications systems.

Boeing put the unit up for sale more than a year ago. The purchase is expected to be completed this year.

DRS makes computer displays for the Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. The company posted a profit last year of nearly $12 million on sales of about $428 million.

Boeing’s announcement Friday came just days after the company said it would transfer about 1,100 jobs from its international space station and space shuttle programs in Huntington Beach to Texas and Florida. Earlier this year, Boeing said it would cut 400 to 500 jobs at its Delta II rocket facility in Huntington Beach as part of a plan to consolidate rocket manufacturing in Pueblo, Colo., and Decatur, Ala.

Boeing shares rose 39 cents to close at $59.21 on the New York Stock Exchange. DRS stock gained 15 cents to close at $19.70 on the American Stock Exchange.