BAE Systems Sponsors Rensselaer Blimp Course and Penn State Countermeasures Course.

Business Editors

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 2003

BAE Systems recently helped launch a new course of study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, N.Y. A $100,000 sponsorship will be used to enhance the institution's embedded controls curriculum.

RPI, the nation's oldest technological university, is also receiving equipment and technical advice from BAE Systems in Nashua, N.H. A team of Engineering Leadership Development Program employees -- including several RPI alumni -- will help with technical and project reviews. RPI students, with the guidance of their professors and BAE Systems engineers, will design an embedded control system for an 11.5-foot blimp.

"We are pleased to help create this new opportunity for fundamental engineering learning that will have immeasurable and unlimited possibilities," said Galen Ho, president of the company's Information & Electronic Systems Integration Sector. Ho joined RPI Provost Bud Peterson, College of Engineering Dean William Baeslack, BAE Systems engineers, students and guests at the recent inaugural launch of the student-designed blimp. "Rensselaer engineering students for years to come will benefit from the ingenuity and effort going into creating this exciting new classroom experience, and we appreciate the partnership with BAE Systems that makes it possible," said Baeslack.

The grant to RPI is part of BAE Systems efforts to foster future engineers, said Nancy Huntley, Community & State Relations manager, supplementing the base for the growing need for high technology engineers in industry and manufacturing.

In another outreach effort, BAE Systems donated $5,000 to Pennsylvania State University for its basic engineering design course. For the 2003/2004 school year, the course, mandatory for freshmen engineering students, challenges students to develop countermeasure concepts to protect against the threat of rocket-propelled grenades.

BAE Systems engineers, who developed the effort, kicked off the class project Oct. 14 at Penn State, along with more than 150 student engineering leaders. "Our design project and sponsorship is the perfect vehicle for us to build a significant partnership with the College of Engineering," said BAE Systems North America Executive Vice President and Campus Executive to Penn State, Walt Havenstein. "This project helps students understand the challenges our engineers face in developing technologies that help meet that objective of protecting and saving lives. At the same time, the students get the chance to learn about teamwork, creativity, and a systems engineering approach to solving problems," he said.

Company leaders visited Penn State last year to identify ways to broaden the relationship with faculty and students. "The Introduction to Engineering Design course is an excellent venue to support the curriculum, work with a large number of students from many engineering disciplines, and provide students the opportunity to interact with the people at BAE Systems," said Havenstein.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defense systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $19 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

BAE Systems North America is a high-technology U.S. company employing more than 25,000 people who live and work in some 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. The company is dedicated to solving its customers' needs with highly innovative and leading edge solutions across the defense electronics, systems, information technology, and services arenas.

BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.

www.na.baesystems.com