For immediate release: February 22, 2006

MDA Successfully Demonstrates Advanced In-Orbit Rendezvous Solution

BRAMPTON, Ont. - MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a provider of essential information solutions, announced today the successful demonstration of its advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system to guide the delicate approach maneuvers required for rendezvous and proximity operations in space.   The LIDAR system delivered by MDA was developed in partnership with Optech.

The LIDAR system was launched aboard the XSS-11 microsatellite in April of 2005 as part of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) rendezvous demonstration mission. It was acquired from MDA by Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the XSS-11 mission. AFRL has publicly declared that repeated experiments to rendezvous with a resident space object have met all expectations to date. The plan is to continue these in-orbit experiments for another year.

"Nobody's ever done anything like this in space" says Vernon Baker, XSS-11 program manager at the Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, US . He says developing an ability to inspect or repair in orbit will significantly lower the cost of operating satellites.

This success further expands MDA's growing capability to participate in new missions that ultimately may lead to the refueling, refurbishing, and repositioning of spacecraft while in orbit, thus extending the useful life of these high value assets.

About MDA

MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide.

Focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, MDA delivers a broad spectrum of earth and space based information solutions, ranging from complex operational systems, to tailored information services, to electronic information products.

MDA employs more than 2,700 people in locations across the United States , the United Kingdom , and Canada . The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA.

Editor Note: Recently released images and mission update available at
http://www.vs.afrl.af.mil/News/06-04.swf

Related Websites:
www.mdacorporation.com
www.lockheedmartin.com
www.optech.on.ca

Forward Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. with respect to future events and financial performance. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and MDA's actual results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect MDA's financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this release.