Selected for 7E7 Computing

Smiths Group PLC
10 February 2004

Boeing Selects Smiths for 7E7 Computing

Smiths Aerospace has been selected by The Boeing Company to provide the highly
advanced Common Core System (CCS) for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner.  Keith
Butler-Wheelhouse, Chief Executive of Smiths Group, said: 'This first contract
win on the 7E7 is a major breakthrough for the Company, confirming Smiths
Aerospace as a key tier 1 supplier/partner with Boeing for their next family of
commercial airplanes'.  Smiths estimates potential future sales of these
computer systems to be worth in excess of $1bn.  Dr John Ferrie, Group Managing
Director for Smiths Aerospace said, 'Selection for this pivotal system confirms
Smiths as a premier integrator and developer of airborne computing systems, and
positions our team to deliver state of the art avionics well into the future'.

Acting like its central nervous system, the 7E7 CCS is the backbone of the
airplane's computers, networks, and interfacing electronics, and will host all
of the airplane's avionics and utilities functions. The system will replace
dozens of traditional, standalone, computers and data busses fitted to present
day aircraft.  Smiths will integrate third party supplier-developed applications
and associated software onto the CCS in its role as first-tier integrator. The
7E7 entry into service is scheduled for 2008.

The system will be designed and manufactured at Smiths facilities in Michigan,
USA and Cheltenham, England.

Enquiries:

Smiths                                          Boeing

Jennifer Villarreal, +(0) 1 616 617 7755        Lori Gunter, [phone]
Caroline Harris, [phone]


About Smiths

Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, is the leading transatlantic
aerospace equipment company, with more than 9,000 staff and $1.6 billion
revenues split between Europe and North America. The company holds key positions
in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine
manufacturers and are world-leaders in electronic and mechanical systems,
precision components and customer services.  www.smiths-aerospace.com


About the Common Core System

The Common Core System is a modular computing hardware platform and partitioned
operating system that will host the software applications of the airplanes
avionics and utilities functions. The system replaces the traditional, unique,
standalone, computers that are fitted to common aircraft. The system
architecture provides significant benefits to a traditional avionics
architecture including, reduced development costs, reduced weight, increased
performance, lower acquisition and maintenance costs, and reduced cost of
change.

The heart of the system is two dual redundant Common Computing Resources
cabinets that house fault-tolerant computing modules each with a robust, ARINC
653 partitioned software operating environment.  An ARINC 664 - Deterministic
Ethernet - advanced communications network connects the Common Computing
Resources to a number of Remote Data Concentrators and the avionics and
utilities systems.  The architecture is both flexible and scalable, permitting
application to other aircraft under development as well as upgrades to
functionality of first-generation 7E7 aircraft.

Smiths Aerospace joined a team of international companies developing
technologies and design concepts for the 7E7 airplane program as announced by
Boeing and Smiths on June 3, 2003. Smiths is proposing a number of major
electronics and actuation systems for the Boeing 7E7, of which the Common Core
System is the first to be announced.

                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange