BAE SYSTEMS Earns Top Rating for Systems and Software Development.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- BAE Systems facilities in Santa Clara, Calif. and Orlando, Fla. have received Level 5 certification against the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). This is the highest level rating for systems and software development that an organization can achieve.

An independent team of nine people conducted the Level 5 appraisal. The Systems and Software Consortium, Inc. led the two weeks of artifact examination and interviews. The team examined the artifacts of five projects, including the Future Combat Systems program and the Bradley Combat Systems program.

"Receiving the highest level of maturity for both systems and software development is rare, especially when it covers the full spectrum of product development ranging from modeling and simulation through laboratory and field testing," said Dao Vu, Process and Product Quality Improvement Manager for BAE Systems. "This achievement will give our customers the confidence that we are truly a world class system's integrator of ground combat vehicles."

"Achieving SEI CMMI Level 5 maturity rating in both systems engineering and software through this external assessment is a key milestone for our business," said Raj Rajagopal, Vice President & General Manager. "The linkage between systems and software has become increasingly important in today's complex weapon systems. These results confirm our capabilities as being among the very best in delivering the Army's advanced ground combat systems, such as the Bradley A3, and re-validate our ability to develop highly advanced manned and unmanned vehicles for the FCS Brigade Combat Teams."

Also covered in the CMMI Level 5 certification are the Training Systems Group at the company's Orlando facility and the Santa Clara-based Modeling Simulation Analysis and Test group, including the Combat simulation and Integration Laboratory, a state-of-the-art lab where combat vehicle integration and test activities are conducted. The Santa Clara facility first achieved Level 5 certification for software development, including its CSIL, in January 2003.

The Santa Clara site is among a number of BAE Systems' facilities which have achieved CMMI Level 5 certification: San Diego, Calif.; Wayne, N.J.; Reston, Va.; and Minneapolis, Minn. Additionally, the following BAE Systems' facilities have achieved CMMI Level 3 certification: Nashua, N.H.; Yonkers, N.Y.; Manassas and McLean, Va.; Pomona, Calif.; and Lansdale, Pa.

CMMI(R) and Capability Maturity Model(R) are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is the premier trans-Atlantic defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, had 2005 sales that exceeded $28 billion.