TRW Wins $78.7 Million Air Force Contract.

Business Editors/Aerospace Writers

RESTON, Va. and SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2001

TRW Inc. (NYSE:TRW) has been awarded a $78.7 million, five-year follow-on contract to provide technical support to the U.S. Air Force's Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP).

RSLP provides the DoD with the target launch and space launch vehicles necessary to support the various test programs associated with national and theatre missile defense, as well as other major DoD programs.

"This award builds on TRW's 20-year relationship with the Air Force providing systems engineering and technical assistance to this program," said Dr. Robert Strickler, vice president and general manager for TRW's Space & Missile Systems Division. "Under the new contract, TRW will provide the technical help needed to ensure the successful launch of a new air-launched target system, while continuing its support for the current target and space launch systems that have been an overwhelming success over the years."

TRW's primary role on the contract, awarded by the U.S. Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center's Test and Evaluation Directorate at Kirkland, Air Force Base, N.M., is to ensure the continued reliability of excess ICBM motors through a comprehensive aging surveillance program.

Designed and built in the late 1950s and early 60s, the last Minuteman II first stage was more than 35 years old when it was launched as a strategic target this year in support of the National Missile Defense Program. RSLP and TRW have supported all seven target launches to date for NMD testing and provided the rocket motors for the test interceptors. Together with the Air Force team at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, TRW provided key engineering support to ensure each motor and all components of the missile were properly refurbished, tested and ready for flight. Despite their age, more than 100 motors have been used without a failure in the past five years supporting a wide range of launch systems and mission applications.

TRW has provided a variety of engineering services to the RSLP's Theater Missile Defense (TMD) program. TRW developed a concept for modifying the Minuteman ICBM second stage rocket motor for use as the first stage for the target vehicle, which is now the workhorse for medium-range launch systems today.

Earlier this year, TRW supported the Air Force when it used a retired Minuteman II ICBM to launch the Joint Air Force /Weber State College satellite (JAWSAT) and the MightySat spacecraft successfully into space. This event represented the first time a refurbished Minuteman II ICBM was used to place payloads into space.

Beyond its role ensuring that Minuteman I and II missiles can be used for target and space launch purposes, TRW has been the systems engineering and technical advisor to the Air Force managing the nation's ICBM fleet since 1954. Today, TRW is the prime integration contractor, managing the total ICBM Minuteman III system and integrated team of contractors.

TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services for automotive, aerospace, and information systems markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.trw.com .