EASI Engineered Support Systems (MM)

Engineered Support Receives Additional $57.7 Million Ceiling Contract for FMTV Armored Cab Kits ST. LOUIS, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Engineered Support Systems, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:EASI) wholly owned subsidiary, Radian Inc. (Radian), based in Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a new contract from the U.S. Army for vehicle add-on armor kits. Initial funding under the $57.7 million contract totals $28.8 million under which Radian will provide 1,049 Crew Protection Kits (CPKs) for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). The recently awarded contract brings the Army's total procurement to 1,857 FMTV CPKs to date. The final contract value is subject to further negotiation with the Army pending the submission of more definitive costing data, according to Gerald A. Potthoff, Vice Chairman, CEO and President of Engineered Support. This recent contract adds to a previously awarded contract for 808 CPKs, valued at approximately $45 million, which Radian and the Company's Systems & Electronics Inc. (SEI) subsidiary have nearly completed. Most of the original armor kits included under this earlier award are now in operational use by American forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The CPK will be produced at SEI's West Plains, Missouri facility, which will activate a second shift on the production line in order to field kits as quickly as possible for soldiers in harm's way. Potthoff commented, "These expedited contract awards support the increasingly urgent requirement to improve the physical security and safety of U.S. forces supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The CPK-equipped FMTV vehicles in operational use have already proven themselves in theatre many times while under attack by enemy insurgents. This is a credit to the design, production and installation efforts of our Radian and SEI teammates, who are proud to provide this vital protective solution to the men and women of America's military. We will work diligently in completing this most important project by the end of fiscal 2005." The major design benefits of the CPKs include substantial protection for the FMTV's crew and key components; simple bolt-on/bolt-off application to fit over the existing cab; and incorporation of an environmental control system for air conditioning these 'buttoned-up' cabs. About Radian Crew Protection Kits The CPK provides enhanced protection and increased crew survivability from the array of weapons being used by insurgent forces in Iraq, including small arms, land mines, improvised explosive devices, grenades and rocket-propelled grenades. The CPK was designed and integrated into the FMTV vehicle to protect critical system components and provide the crew with 360-degree protection. Additionally, Radian's kit design does not interfere with the vehicle's ability to perform its cargo transport mission, or alter its handling and braking characteristics, even given the increased weight associated with the CPK. Driver safety is maintained to include retaining an FMVSS compliant same windshield size, and increased self-protection is available through the integration of a protected machine gun ring mount and firing ports. The CPK design ensures maintainability and low life cycle costs by using easily removable and replaceable components that can be shipped aboard any military cargo aircraft. Each section of the CPK is completely removable, so the vehicle can be rapidly restored to its original configuration when it is returned to non-hostile or home base environments, where fuel consumption is a greater consideration. Human safety factors are also addressed in this design through the integration of an enhanced air conditioning system while still maintaining the original three-man crew and equipment capacity in the cab. In addition, four high velocity vent fans have been added as back-up to the air conditioning system to provide a continuous flow of fresh air into the cab. Engineered Support Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and supplies integrated military electronics, support equipment and technical and logistics services for all branches of America's armed forces and certain foreign militaries, homeland security forces and selected government and intelligence agencies. For additional information about Engineered Support Systems, please visit the Company's web site at http://www.engineeredsupport.com/ . Certain statements in this press release are forward looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from those described or contemplated. DATASOURCE: Engineered Support Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Daniel E. Kreher of Engineered Support Systems, Inc., +1-314-553-4915 Web site: http://www.engineeredsupport.com/

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