New Alliance

SMITHS INDUSTRIES PLC
6 September 1999

Smiths Industries and Hamilton Sundstrand join the Lockheed Martin JSF team

The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program office has announced
selection of Smiths Industries Aerospace and Hamilton Sundstrand Aerospace to
provide the electric power generation, conversion, storage and distribution
systems for the next generation multirole fighter, the JSF.

This alliance will utilise the combined technology strengths of both companies
to provide a total system solution for the JSF. Both companies will share in
the development and production of the equipment. Smiths Industries will
provide the electric distribution units, power panels, power distribution
centres, batteries and battery charger equipment. Hamilton Sundstrand will
have overall programme management and system integration responsibility and
will provide the generation and conversion equipment.

This alliance will work with Lockheed Martin as an integrated product team
(IPT) to meet the demanding affordability and supportability challenges
required for the JSF programme. The alliance IPT will be co-located in Fort
Worth, Texas in the USA with support from both companies, including Smiths
Industries locations in Cheltenham, UK and Florham Park, New Jersey. Hamilton
Sundstrand supporting facilities are located in Rockford, Illinois and Windsor
Locks, Connecticut.

Commenting on the alliance, Norman Barber, Chairman of Smiths Industries
Aerospace said, 'Selection by Lockheed Martin recognises the position we have
built, in less than ten years, as one of the world's leading design
authorities in power management systems. As a key member of the integrated
product team we will be leveraging leading-edge technologies developed for the
F-22 and proven on major military and civil aircraft programmes. As this
programme progresses, we expect to develop a close relationship with Lockheed
Martin and establish Smiths Industries as a major supplier for future
applications.'

Lockheed Martin received one of two JSF Concept Demonstration (CD) contracts
awarded by the Department of Defense in November 1996. Smiths Industries
Aerospace is currently working with the Lockheed Martin team in developing
electrical system and equipment designs in the CD phase. The Lockheed Martin
JSF team includes Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace as major partners.
Flight evaluation of the demonstrator aircraft is scheduled to take place in
2000, with government selection of a single contractor team for the
Engineering and Manufacturing Development and Production phases set for 2001.

JSF consists a family of multirole fighters consisting of a conventional
takeoff and landing version for land-based operations, a carrier-suitable
version for operating off large-deck aircraft carriers, and a short takeoff
and vertical landing (STOVL) version to replace the Harrier. The JSF market
consists of approximately 3000 fighters for the US Air Force, US Navy, 
US Marine Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. There is an additional market
for approximately 2000 more aircraft to other nations.

Smiths Industries is a world leader in: advanced avionics systems for the
aerospace industry; single-use devices and critical care equipment for the
healthcare sector; and specialised products for the interconnect and air
handling markets.

Press enquiries to:

Richard Bayliss, tel: [phone]
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