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: [phone]
[e-mail]