DRS Technologies Receives New Contracts to Design and Produce Multi-Function Sonar Consoles for a European Navy.

Business Editors

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2002

DRS Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: DRS) announced today that it has received two contracts to design and manufacture dual-display sonar consoles for the newly designed mine hunters for a European navy.

Selected for its modular and easily configurable design, DRS's OPUS 2 Multi-Function Consoles will provide the processing and display for the ships' command and control system NAUTIS 3, and the control and operation of the Sonar 2093. The contracts have a combined value of $4.4 million.

The first award, valued at $2.8 million, was received from Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), an Anglo-Italian joint venture of BAE Systems plc (LSE: BA.L) and Finmeccanica SpA (MSE: SIFI.MI). Product deliveries for this award are expected to continue through 2006.

The second award, valued at approximately $1.6 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. Deliveries are expected to continue through 2005, with additional orders associated with this program anticipated. The company's DRS Rugged Systems (Europe) Ltd. unit in Farnham, Surrey, the United Kingdom, will perform work associated with both contracts.

"These awards strengthen our market position, further enhancing our international presence as an innovative supplier of high-quality, modular, multi-function computer display workstations for worldwide military applications," said Mark S. Newman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of DRS Technologies. "OPUS 2 has been designed to evolve with changing technology, as well as to maximize the benefits of space and cost efficiencies, in line with our commitment to provide our customers with the best value. With additional awards anticipated, our reputation as an international reliable, value-added systems integrator of ruggedized computer technology is growing."

The design of the OPUS 2 Multi-Function Console product line allows for fast customization supporting a variety of applications required for air, sea and land systems, including sonar, C3, weapons control and platform management. Modular and easily configurable, these consoles can be adjusted for vertical or horizontal use and are ideal for future display sizes. Their display modules feature active matrix LCD flat panels in sizes ranging from 15 to 21 inches with display resolution up to 1600 x 1200 pixels.

AMS's NAUTIS 3 is the latest variant of the Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based NAUTIS family of command systems already in service with the U.S. Navy, U.K. Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy, among others. It controls all of the combat system equipment essential to mine countermeasures mission effectiveness.

Thales' Sonar 2093, currently in use with the U.K. Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and others, is capable of operating as both a towed Variable-Depth Sonar (VDS) and a hull-mounted sonar. Advanced technology allows it to perform simultaneous combinations of search, classification, mine avoidance and route survey. With two search and three classification frequencies, the system can operate at high ship speeds, while a sophisticated tracking system accurately resolves the tow's position in variable-depth mode.

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.