TRW begins work on Joint Simulation System.

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 1997--TRW (NYSE:TRW) has begun work on a $69.2 million contract to provide the Department of Defense with a distributed, computerized training simulation system capable of realistically representing the full range of military Joint Task Force operations.

As prime contractor, TRW will provide systems integration and development, test and site installation and support for this Joint Simulation System (JSIMS). The system will offer a unique simulation and modeling training tool to members of the joint staff, unified combatant commands, and the services.

TRW's partner, San Diego, Calif.-based Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), will provide systems engineering support, software development, integration and test, as well as modeling and simulation technology.

Work on this seven-year, cost-plus-award fee contract, awarded by Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., will be performed primarily in the Orlando area. Current staffing has reached approximately 35 contractor and subcontractor employees, and is anticipated to grow to approximately 100 employees during the project's peak.

JSIMS will replace the simulation training environment currently in use at the U.S. Atlantic Command Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center (JTASC), Suffolk, Va.; the Joint Warfighting Center (JCFC), Ft. Monroe, Va., and at several other joint combatant commands over the course of this contract. Both centers will be involved with testing the JSIMS development.

The new system will feature an interoperative warfighting training simulation in which virtual and live players from unit level to commanders in chief collaborate in rehearsing on a synthetic battlefield. Reduced costs derived from this technology will enable more frequent training exercises, geared toward single standalone service training as well as multiservice training. In addition to warfighting simulations, JSIMS can be used for rehearsing other joint operations such as peacekeeping missions.

Other TRW/SAIC teammates, collectively known as the JSIMS Enterprise, include SPARTA, Inc., Laguna Hills, Calif., for security engineering; AEgis Research, Huntsville, Ala., for engineering and integration; Aurora Simulation, Inc., Reston, Va., for common resource repository development; MRJ, Fairfax, Va., for intelligence training simulation; and MATCOM 2, Alexandria, Va., for subject matter expertise in joint training and doctrine development.

"The JSIMS Enterprise introduces a new concept for developing and fielding joint systems," said Jack Distaso, vice president and general manager, TRW Data Technologies Division, Carson, Calif. "Our team's extensive command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence and simulation experience will provide the Joint Force Commander and staff the ability to easily 'train as you fight and fight as you train,' in support of Joint Vision 2010."

TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services for automotive and space and defense markets worldwide. TRW's 1996 sales were $9.86 billion.

CONTACT: TRW Inc., Fairfax, Va.

Linda Javier, 310/812-4105 or

Al Frascella, 703/803-5353