By The Canadian Press

LEESBURG, Va. - Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of rugged computer electronics for the aerospace and defence markets, says it has begun a significant expansion of its Ottawa plant.

The expansion should be completed by March, the North Carolina-based company said Friday.

Curtiss-Wright said the construction project includes an addition to the existing building and upgrades to the manufacturing plant and offices to accommodate the company's expanding workforce.

The company did not say how many jobs are being added to the Ottawa plant.

'With Curtiss-Wright Controls' continued growth and success in our target market of rugged deployed defence . . . embedded electronics and systems, the company recognize the need to invest and expand our existing plant, engineering capabilities, and manufacturing capabilities to better serve our customers and their increasing demand for our technologies and products," said Lynn Patterson, general manager and vice-president of the U.S. company.

Curtiss-Wright Controls, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., makes specialized motion control electronics and is a unit of Curtiss-Wright Corp. (NYSE:CW).

It has plants around the world, including in Ottawa and Leesburg, Va.