Lockheed Martin Awards Harris Corporation $5 Million for Next-Generation Mobile Rocket Launcher Electronics.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2001

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), a world leader in electronics and high-capacity networks for military vehicles and aircraft, today announced that it has been awarded nearly $5 million in contracts by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, for the retrofit of fire control system electronics supporting two mobile field artillery platforms: the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the next-generation High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The Harris-manufactured electronics significantly increase the types of munitions that the MLRS and HIMARS can fire, once the systems are fielded.

Both HIMARS and the enhanced Guided MLRS (GMLRS) are follow-on phases to a series of Improved Fire Control System (IFCS) contracts supporting the U.S. Army's MLRS program, to-date totaling nearly $125 million in subcontracts for Harris. Further IFCS production and retrofit awards could increase the overall value of MLRS-related contracts for Harris to $500 million by 2010.

"Harris continues partnerships with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army to infuse commercial (COTS/NDI) technologies into the MLRS family of launchers in order to provide an open system architecture for further advancement of firepower capability," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "We are excited about the additional development work in fire control system electronics and are working hard to provide Lockheed Martin with solutions for its next-generation HIMARS and GMLRS."

Under terms of the HIMARS contract, Harris was awarded $2.2 million to retrofit two of the IFCS/MLRS Line Replaceable Units (LRU) - the Launcher Interface Unit and the Power Switching Unit for integration into the next-generation artillery platform. Under a separate contract, Harris was awarded an initial $1.7 million to develop the IFCS/MLRS Improved Weapon Interface Unit (IWIU). The IWIU will incorporate interfaces for the GMLRS rocket currently under development by a multi-national team led by Lockheed Martin. The GMLRS contract contains options for an additional $1.9 million that could be awarded in June 2001.

The MLRS M270A1 is a self-contained, highly-mobile artillery weapon currently capable of deploying 12 surface-to-surface rockets or two Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. The rockets can be either individually or ripple-fired using the new automated fire control system.

HIMARS, the newest member of the MLRS family, will fire the complete MLRS and ATACMS family of munitions. Its fire control system, electronics, and communications units are interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1 launcher. HIMARS is rapid deployment-capable via cargo aircraft such as the C-130 and C-17. It also retains the self-loading, autonomous features that have made MLRS the premier rocket artillery system in the world.

Harris GCSD conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces state-of-the-art airborne, spaceborne, and terrestrial communications and information processing systems for military and government agencies, their prime contractors, and the company's commercial businesses, as well as select commercial organizations worldwide.

Harris Corporation is an international communications equipment company focused on providing product, system and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services for wireless, broadcast, network support, and government markets. Harris has sales and service facilities in more than 90 countries. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.