DRS Technologies Receives New Orders to Upgrade Australian Naval Fleet With Flat Panel Display Systems.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2000

DRS Technologies, Inc. (AMEX:DRS) announced today that it has received new orders to produce rugged flat panel displays for the upgrade of the FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates of the Royal Australian Navy.

The contracts, with a combined value of $1.5 million, were awarded to DRS by ADI Ltd. in Sydney, and Thomson Marconi Sonar Pty. Ltd. in Rydalmere, New South Wales, Australia. For these contracts, the company will provide 18.1-inch Digital Flat Panel (DFP-181/R) displays, which will be incorporated in the company's Shipboard Display Equipment (SDE)-21 Vertical Tactical Workstations being built by ADI under license and in new underwater acoustic warfare systems being integrated by Thomson Marconi Sonar. Work associated with these contracts will be accomplished by the company's DRS Electronic Systems unit in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and DRS Laurel Technologies unit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Product deliveries are expected to commence in October.

Mark S. Newman, DRS Technologies' chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "These new orders provide us with the opportunity to participate in a major international naval modernization program and firmly establish our flat panel product line as displays of choice in the global market place for sea, land and airborne defense applications."

The Royal Australian Navy is modernizing its FFG-7 guided-missile frigates to increase their operational effectiveness against regional threats and ensure supportability. The program includes upgrading the ship's command and control system, and installing a new sonar suite. FFG-7 frigates are primarily undersea warfare ships providing open-ocean escort of amphibious vessels and convoys in moderate threat environments.

Ruggedized to withstand extreme temperature, shock, vibration and other harsh environmental conditions, DRS's high-resolution, color DFP 181/R Digital Flat Panel displays are being supplied for mission critical systems on board the Australian FFG-7 vessels. The SDE-21 Vertical Tactical Workstations installed in the combat information center will have two flat panels - a plan position indicator with a writable surface and an auxiliary display with a touchscreen. The underwater warfare system consoles will use DFP 181/R flat panels with flicker compensation to enhance acoustic waterfall displays.

DRS produces a family of display workstations, flat panels and computer peripheral equipment that integrates the latest commercial computing technology for combat, command and control, and mission-essential applications. These systems are developed with an openly designed architecture to support the common operating environment being implemented in surface, subsurface, land and airborne military platforms. These systems provide the most flexible display and computing infrastructure available to allow military customers to accommodate new combat system development or the upgrade of existing systems. They provide benefits throughout their life cycle, including low cost of ownership, faster technology insertion, smooth integration with legacy systems, and adaptability to new environments.

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, data storage, digital imaging, electro-optics, flight safety and space.

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