DRS Technologies Receives U.S. Army Contract to Provide Second Generation Thermal Imaging Systems for Abrams Tanks.

Business Editors

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

DRS Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: DRS) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to provide Second Generation Forward Looking Infrared (SG FLIR) Thermal Imaging Systems (TIS) for the gunner's sighting system on the Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) program.

The M1A2 SEP extends the customer's investment in the Abrams M1A2 Main Battle Tank, which was the Army's first fully digital software-driven ground combat vehicle.

The $3.8 million award was received by DRS from the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Work associated with this contract will be accomplished by the company's DRS Sensor Systems unit in Torrance, California. The TIS provided by DRS significantly increases the sighting systems' imaging resolution, targeting range, detection capability and reliability. The same advanced DRS product technology has been incorporated in the sighting systems on the U.S. Army's M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). Product deliveries are scheduled to commence in November of this year and conclude in September 2002.

"Our Second Generation FLIR Thermal Imaging Systems play a critical role in information dominance, power projection and troop survivability in ground combat missions," said Mark S. Newman, DRS Technologies' chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Supporting the Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) program, these systems promote commonality among various force elements for a decidedly strategic and tactical advantage. As a leading U.S. defense technology supplier of Second Generation FLIR thermal imaging sighting systems, DRS is uniquely qualified with a strong track record to continue to integrate this critical technology in the Abrams battle tank, the mainstay of Force XXI land warfare."

DRS's SG FLIR Thermal Imaging Systems incorporate the most advanced, high-resolution, day/night vision technology available for the success of ground combat operations, enhancing the surveillance ranges for the identification of threats, increasing target acquisitions and significantly reducing fratricide. TIS provides high-resolution imagery to detect threats at greater distances under a full range of harsh battlefield conditions, enhancing the platform's effectiveness and survivability. Designed to reduce life-cycle costs by leveraging commonality and promoting interoperability across military platforms, it uses the same SG FLIR found in the M1 Commander's Independent Viewer (CIV), the Bradley M2A3 Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem (IBAS), and the HMMWV Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance Systems (LRAS3).

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.

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