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Press Release Source: United Defense Industries, Inc.
United Defense Defeats RPGs with Close-In Counter Measure Active Protection System
Wednesday September 8, 6:30 am ET
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2004--United Defense Industries, Inc. (NYSE:UDI - News) has announced that its Close-In Counter Measure (CICM) active protection system successfully intercepted and destroyed incoming Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) during end-to-end testing at the U.S. Army's Redstone Technical Test Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
In successful end-to-end tests, the United Defense CICM system detected launched RPGs, tracked incoming rockets, launched its countermeasures and defeated RPGs before they reached the protected system.
"This successful counter-RPG mission was accomplished in less than nine months through targeted research and development efforts and rapid prototyping capabilities by United Defense and its teammates to quickly develop a successful, affordable near-term counter to RPGs," said Carl Sullinger, United Defense CICM Program Manager. "We expect to offer the CICM system to the U.S. military as a force protection measure for our fighting forces in combat while providing a fully compatible path with active defense suites for future systems."
CICM is an outgrowth of the many years supporting U.S. Army's Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in survivability integration.
United Defense engineers and scientists teamed with a number of innovative suppliers to rapidly develop CICM, including: BAE Systems in Nashua, N.H. (which provided the passive cueing sensors); Applimotion Corporation in Loomis, Calif.; Electro-Energy in Danbury, Conn.; Vista Controls in Littleton, Mass.; Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Corp. of Hollister; Calif., and CTC in Santa Clara, Calif. - a United Defense-owned engineering and analysis organization. The first component tests against live RPGs were conducted at the Redstone Technical Test Center in the fourth quarter of 2003.
The United Defense CICM system uses a variety of innovative technologies, including passive cueing sensors, low-cost tracking radar, a compact high-speed launcher, lightweight and precise non-bursting countermeasure, and new Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries to supply pulse power.
United Defense has decades of experience developing combat vehicle survivability systems, including the U.S. Army's current Active Defense Systems (ADS) program, formerly known as the Integrated Army Active Protection System (IAAPS).
About United Defense
United Defense designs, develops and produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions used by the U.S. Department of Defense and allies worldwide, and provides non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion to the U.S. Navy and other U.S. Government agencies. To learn more about United Defense, visit uniteddefense.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to United Defense Industries, Inc., as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10 K for the year ended December 31, 2003 as well as its Quarterly Report on Form 10 Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, and in our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with our business.
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Contact:
United Defense Industries, Inc.
Herb Muktarian, 717-225-8004
herb.muktarian@udlp.com
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Source: United Defense Industries, Inc. |
