Datron Names Mark Rayner Director of Airborne Products; New Business Unit to Focus on Antennas for In-Flight Broadband Access.

Business Editors

VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000

Datron Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: DTSI) today announced that Mark Rayner has been named Director of Airborne Products for its wholly owned subsidiary, Datron/Transco Inc.

Located in Simi Valley, California, Datron/Transco supplies remote sensing satellite earth stations, satellite communication systems and mobile satellite television reception systems to worldwide markets. Rayner will report to John Di Gioia, president of Datron/Transco. The newly created business unit will be responsible for the marketing, design, development and production of airborne antenna products to bring broadband voice, video and data access for commercial airlines, business jets and military aircraft.

"In-flight wireless broadband access is a rapidly emerging market, and Datron brings a key enabling technology that is a cost-effective, reliable solution to the aviation marketplace," Rayner said. "Datron has successfully applied its 30 years' experience in developing satellite tracking antennas for the military to the commercial and consumer markets, and was the first company to bring live satellite TV to passengers on a commercial airline. These new market opportunities will allow us to continue our legacy of innovation."

According to research firm Frost & Sullivan, the worldwide IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) market is expected to see "exponential growth over the next five years." Jerry Weltsch, Frost & Sullivan senior consulting analyst, says that "growth in air travel worldwide, competition among airlines and advancements in IFE technology are fueling demand for more sophisticated in-flight amenities, from Internet access to in-seat-distributed video."

Airborne satellite tracking antennas are an enabling technology to this growing market.

"Mark has done an excellent job in developing market opportunities for Datron's airborne antenna products during the past two years," Di Gioia said. "He brings a combination of engineering, marketing and product development expertise that is critical for establishing the manufacturing infrastructure that will bring Datron products to market for these emerging airborne applications."

Rayner brings more than 12 years of experience to the position, including 10 years at Datron as well as two years at TRW. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from California State University, Northridge.

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ from the anticipated results expressed in such forward-looking statements. These include, among others, uncertainties stemming from the dependence of the Company on foreign sales and on large orders from a relatively small number of customers, risks relating to the decline in the Company's traditional defense business and the Company's efforts to develop and market consumer products, lack of timely development or customer acceptance of new products, changes in or unavailability of products and services offered by satellite service providers and their related suppliers, worldwide economic downturns and currency devaluations, restrictions that may be imposed by the U.S. government on the export of Company products, and the impact of competition. Investors are referred to the Company's periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including without limitation the Investment Considerations set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Datron Systems provides products and services addressing the needs of emerging satellite and radio communication markets.