Mercury Computer Systems Selected by BAE SYSTEMS for Advanced Multifunction Radar.

Business/Technology Editors

CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2000

SAMPSON Radar Powered by Mercury COTS Technology to be Deployed on

U.K. Navy's Next Generation Frigate 

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) announced today it has been selected by BAE SYSTEMS to provide signal processing subsystems for the SAMPSON multifunction radar design. SAMPSON will be deployed as part of the Principal Anti-Air Missile Systems (PAAMS) for the Royal Navy's TYPE 45 next generation destroyer.

"This order for systems in support of the British Royal Navy further strengthens our partnership with BAE SYSTEMS," said Andy Pine, managing director of Mercury Computer Systems Ltd. "The BAE SYSTEMS radar design is among the most advanced in the world and has the potential for deployment by the navies of several allied countries." This order follows a long line of radar and sonar contracts in which Mercury was chosen to provide equipment for the U.S. Navy.

Mercury currently has a long-term agreement with BAE SYSTEMS to provide digital signal processing solutions. Mercury has received a development order for SAMPSON valued at U.S. $1 million.

"In a military environment of increasing uncertainty, the SAMPSON radar, based on active array technologies, will provide the Royal Navy with one of the most effective naval radar systems in the world," said Les Gregory, business development director of BAE SYSTEMS. "Mercury offered us a solution which will enable the SAMPSON radar to perform the multiple tasks necessary for the prime sensor of the PAAMS system. Our decision was also based on Mercury's record of reliable real-time performance and rapid deployment, as well as its strong support team based in the U.K."

The SAMPSON radar will be deployed on PAAMS for the Royal Navy's next generation Type 45 Destroyer. SAMPSON is one of the most progressive radar systems in the world, using digital adaptive beam forming, making it virtually immune to electronic jamming. Mercury's RACE(R) processors will provide the high-performance, real-time signal processing necessary to enable the system to shape and point the radar beam instantaneously in any direction and to change or adapt the radar characteristics in real time in response to threats and operating conditions. This allows the radar to perform several tasks, which have traditionally required a number of separate systems.

Additional information and illustrations regarding PAMMS, the Type 45 Destroyer and SAMPSON radar can be found at http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/horizon/index.html. Illustrations can be found at http://www.mc.com/pressroom/imagelibrary/.

About Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) is the leading independent producer of high-performance embedded, real-time digital signal and image processing computer systems that transform sensor data to information for analysis and interpretation. Mercury's products play a critical role in a wide range of defense electronics and medical imaging applications. In air-, sea-, and land-based military platforms, these systems process real-time radar, sonar, and signals intelligence data. Mercury's systems are also used in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic devices, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and the rapidly growing field of digital X-ray.

Based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mercury serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia through a network of subsidiaries and distributors.

Visit Mercury on the Web: www.mc.com

RACE is a registered trademark of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.