DRS Technologies Receives New Contract to Design and Produce Multi-Function Sonar Consoles for the U.K. Royal Navy; Consoles Support Royal Navy's Sonar 2193 Mid-Life Update Project.

Business Editors

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2002

DRS Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: DRS) announced today that it has received a contract to design and manufacture sonar display consoles for the Sonar 2193 Project of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy.

For this new order, the company's OPUS 2 Multi-Function Consoles will be installed on Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vehicles (MCMV), as part of the Mid-Life Update program.

The award, valued in excess of $1 million, was received from Thales Underwater Systems Ltd. (LSE: THS.L), a unit of the Thales Group (PAR: TCFP.PA), in Templecombe, Somerset, the United Kingdom. The company's DRS Rugged Systems (Europe) Ltd. unit in Farnham, Surrey, the United Kingdom, will perform work associated with this award, which will include adapting a single-display, bulkhead-mounted variant of the OPUS 2 Consoles. The systems are expected to be delivered to this customer commencing September 2002 and continuing through 2004, with additional contracts associated with this program expected.

"This award is one in a series recently received from the Royal Navy for our computer workstations and enhances the company's position as an international supplier of flat panel naval display consoles for advanced military applications," said Mark S. Newman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of DRS Technologies. "This new contract builds on DRS's reputation as a recognized supplier in the design and production of high-quality, modular, multi-function display systems for the U.K.'s Royal Navy. The innovative design features of the OPUS 2 console will be a strong complement to the Sonar 2193 Update Project."

OPUS 2 was developed with extensive consideration for modularity, conformance to defense ergonomic standards and versatility. Designed to support ease of technology insertion, the functionality of this console is expected to further evolve as new technology becomes available, delivering significant cost savings for customers well into the future.

The design of the OPUS 2 Multi-Function Console product line allows for fast customization for a variety of applications required for air, sea and land systems, including sonar, C3, weapons control and platform management. Modular and easily configurable, the console can be adjusted for vertical or horizontal use and is ideal for future display sizes. For this application, its single display module features an active matrix LCD flat panel, which can range in size from 15 to 21 inches, and display resolution up to 1600 x 1200 pixels.

Highly sophisticated vessels, the Hunt Class warships are the largest ever constructed of glass-reinforced plastic. They are fitted for both mine hunting and sweeping missions, and frequently support the Fishery Protection Squadron in U.K. waters.

OPUS 2 also has been selected to operate and control Sonar 2087, which is replacing the obsolete Sonar 2031 on Type 23 Duke Class frigates, and is a candidate for the antisubmarine warfare sensor of the Future Surface Combatant. In addition, it was selected to support Sonar 2093 for European Minesweepers, which is a highly capable, variable-depth, multi-mode mine hunting sonar.

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 systems and components in the areas of communications, combat systems, rugged computers, electro-optics, data storage, digital imaging, flight safety and space.

For more information about DRS Technologies, please visit the company's web site at www.drs.com.