DRS Technologies Awarded New Contract To Modernize Venezuelan Fleet; Shipboard Integrated Communications Systems To Enhance Operational Effectiveness.

Business & Technology Editors

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2001

DRS Technologies, Inc. (ASE:DRS) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from the Armada of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ABRV) headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela to produce and integrate digital communications systems that will modernize and improve the maintainability and supportability of Mariscal Sucre F-21 class frigates.

For this $8.3 million contract, DRS will supply and install Shipboard Integrated Communications (SHINCOM) 2100 systems on board the F-23, F-24, F-25 and F-26 Venezuelan frigates, which support anti-air, antisurface and antisubmarine warfare missions. Production of these systems will be accomplished by the company's DRS Flight Safety and Communications unit in Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada. Installation and integration will be performed by DRS at the ABRV naval base near Puerto Cabello with competitively-selected local contractors that support the fleet. The contract has a duration of 26 months.

SHINCOM 2100 provides Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based technology and reliability for tactical interior, exterior and secure circuits on board surface ships during complex joint operations, often involving communications with other airborne, surface, undersea and satellite platforms. Featuring a significant reduction in weight, space and power requirements, SHINCOM provides improved support, mission performance and ease-of-technology insertion benefits to navy customers.

DRS Technologies' chairman, president and chief executive officer Mark S. Newman commented, "SHINCOM 2100 systems play a vital role in determining the operational effectiveness of entire battle groups. The advanced communications capabilities of these systems support complex C4I operations. Designed to accommodate advanced, COTS technology insertion, these systems will benefit the Venezuelan navy and our other international customers well into the 21st century."

The SHINCOM 2100 systems will provide Venezuelan surface combatants with single-button access to interior, exterior and secure circuits for point-to-point and conference networks for ship operations support teams. These systems will improve tactical voice communications through audio enhancements and provide an expanded capacity for integrated radio channels, access to public address circuits and high-frequency (HF) e-mail communications. SHINCOM 2100 operates with a range of radios, telephones and recorders. Under separate awards, the company is providing similar ship communications systems to vessels in the U.S. and Canadian fleets.

DRS Technologies provides leading edge products and services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Focused on defense electronics, the company develops and manufactures a broad range of mission critical products, from rugged computers and peripherals to systems and components in the areas of communications, combat systems, data storage, digital imaging, electro-optics, flight safety and space.

Additional information is available on the company's web site at www.drs.com.