Re Contract

Smiths Group PLC 20 August 2001 Smiths generates $160 million business on US Army programme Smiths Group has been selected by General Dynamics Land Systems Division to design & develop a high voltage main generator system for the Crusader artillery programme. The contract will lead to sales valued at $160m over the life of the programme, including in-service spares and support, with design and manufacture to be carried out by Smiths Aerospace at its facility in Dayton, Ohio. Crusader is the US Army's latest artillery program, with a stated requirement for more than 700 vehicle systems entering service between 2006-2012. The Crusader system consists of two vehicles, a self-propelled howitzer and an armoured re-supply vehicle. The howitzer has fully automated ammunition handling that will deliver 10 to 12 rounds per minute, at ranges in excess of 40 kilometres, using rocket assisted projectiles. A battery of six Crusaders can deliver 15 tons of ordnance in less than 5 minutes. The Smiths generator system will provide total electrical power for the vehicles, and is a development of the technology used in thousands of the company's variable speed constant frequency generator systems in modern US military aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet and F-117A. The Crusader is the second major military contract awarded to Smiths this month, following last week's announcement of a £40 million ($57m) contract, from the Ministry of Defence, to design and install its GenHUMS advanced electronic monitoring system in the Royal Navy's fleet of Sea King helicopters. Smiths Group is a global business with market-leading positions in each of its four operating businesses: advanced aerospace systems; mechanical and polymer seals; medical devices and critical care equipment; and specialised industrial products for interconnect & air movement applications. Further information can be found on the company's website: www.smiths-group.com. Press enquiries to: Richard Bayliss Tel: 020 8457 8306 richard.bayliss@smiths-group.com
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