TRW, US Army, Israel Raise the Bar for Directed Energy Systems; Use Laser Weapon Demonstrator to Repeatedly Engage and Destroy Multiple Targets.

Business Editors

REDONDO BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2000

TRW (NYSE:TRW), the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command (USA-SMDC) and the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMoD) have set a new performance standard for directed energy systems by using the Tactical High Energy Laser/Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (THEL/ACTD) to repeatedly detect, track, engage and destroy salvos of Katyusha rockets fired in rapid succession.

In a series of two-rocket salvo tests conducted August 28 and September 22 in the rolling, high desert of the Army's White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the THEL/ACTD did twice what no other air defense system has ever been designed to do: detect, track and destroy multiple Katyushas in a single engagement.

The historic multiple rocket shoot-downs were achieved less than four months after TRW, SMDC and IMoD first used THEL/ACTD to destroy a single armed Katyusha in flight. They were performed as part of an ongoing program to demonstrate the THEL/ACTD's lethality against short-range tactical threats such as Katyusha rockets.

"Killing one rocket was significant, but being able to show that we can consistently kill two or more targets per engagement puts THEL/ACTD in a class by itself," said Lt. Gen. John Costello, Commanding General, USA-SMDC. "These tests are making it increasingly clear that directed energy weapon systems have the potential to provide some unique and very effective defensive options on the tactical battlefield."

"These tests have demonstrated the unique capability of high-energy laser weapons for tough air defense missions," said Major General Dr. Isaac Ben Israel, Director of Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development, which co-sponsors the THEL/ACTD program with the U.S. Army. "It is now time to move forward to grasp this remarkable opportunity."

"The success of the THEL/ACTD program is a direct result of our team's relentless drive to develop an effective defense against short range rockets," said Timothy W. Hannemann, executive vice president and general manager, TRW Space & Electronics Group, the Army's THEL/ACTD system prime contractor. "Our careful, disciplined approach to integrating and testing this revolutionary system allowed the Army, the Israel Ministry of Defence and the TRW-led contractor team to turn a theoretical goal into a lasting and very significant engineering achievement. This is a proud day for TRW."

Engineers from TRW, the Army and the IMoD conducted the multiple rocket tests under test conditions similar to those used during the June 6 (DE-Day) test, when THEL/ACTD successfully intercepted and destroyed a Katyusha rocket on its first attempt. The major difference, of course, was that in these tests, the laser system detected, tracked, and destroyed two rockets in quick succession. The TRW/US Army/IMoD THEL team will use the multiple rocket test data to evaluate the system's performance relative to its mission requirements.

The THEL/ACTD was designed, developed and produced by a TRW-led team of U.S. and Israeli contractors for the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala. and the Israel Ministry of Defence. Requirements for the system have been driven by Israel, which needs to protect civilians living in towns and communities along its northern border against rocket attacks.

TRW has been engaged in laser research and development since the early 1960s. The company produces solid-state lasers for defense and industrial applications, and designs and develops a variety of high-energy chemical lasers for space, ground and airborne missile defense applications. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company provides advanced technology products and services for the global automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and information systems markets. TRW news releases are available on the corporate Web site: www.trw.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Live action video footage of THEL's history-making multiple rocket intercepts will be available for satellite downlink on Monday, Sept. 25, as follows:

--------------  ---------- -------- ------------ ---------------------
Time (EDT)      Satellite  Trans-   Location     Frequency
                            ponder
--------------- ---------- -------- ------------ ---------------------
--------------- ---------- -------- ------------ ---------------------
9 - 9:10  a.m.  Telstar 4  9 Upper  89 degrees   Video:  11.986 GHz
10 - 10:10 a.m. Ku-Band                West               Vertical
11 - 11:10 a.m. Analog                 Longitude          Polarization
12 - 12:10 p.m.                                  Audio: L:  6.2 MHz
1 - 1:10 p.m.                                           R:  6.8 MHz

--------------- ---------- -------- ------------ ---------------------
--------------- ---------- -------- ------------ ---------------------
2 - 2:10 p.m.   Telstar 4  12 Upper  89 degrees  Video:  12.059 GHz
3 - 3:10 p.m.   Ku-Band                 West              Horizontal
                Analog                  Longitude         Polarization
                                                 Audio: L:  6.2 MHz
                                                        R:  6.8 MHz
------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------

NOTE TO EDITORS: To obtain the latest photos, video clips and information about the THEL/ACTD program, please visit the THEL Web site: www.trw.com/thel.