General Atomics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan 03, 2005

Team Warrior to Participate in Systems Capabilities Demonstration in Early 2005

SAN DIEGO - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft surveillance systems, along with its “Team Warrior” partners AAI Corporation and SPARTA, Inc., today announced that it has been selected as one of two finalists for the U.S. Army’s Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) UAV Program.

Team Warrior will now proceed to the next phase of the Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract award process. A Systems Capabilities Demonstration (SCD) will be conducted the first quarter of 2005 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

“We are honored that the U.S. Army has recognized the high-value solution that Team Warrior brings to the ERMP Program,” said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president and chief executive officer of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “Based on the combat-proven Predator® UAV and One System GCS, the Team Warrior proposal offers the Army the lowest risk solution for persistent ISR and tactical strike operations. We look forward to validating the strengths of the team’s unique yet complementary expertise during the upcoming demonstration period.”

The Systems Capabilities Demonstration will showcase the WarriorTM UAV, which was designed to meet the Army’s requirement for a non-developmental solution, as well as supporting capabilities. The SCD will be held over a three-week period and will consist of system ground and multi-mission flight demonstrations. The results of the Team Warrior demonstration, along with those of a second finalist, are scheduled to be announced in April 2005 when the winner of the ERMP SDD contract will be awarded. This will be the first multi-year contract phase of an ERMP Program estimated to be worth $900 million.

Designed to provide Division and Corps commanders with long-range, armed, unmanned aircraft surveillance capability, the Team Warrior solution utilizes common U.S. Army systems and processes to reduce financial, technical and operational risks to the customer. GA-ASI’s vast design, development and operational experience in unmanned aircraft systems such as the Predator, Army IGNAT®-ER and Predator B, along with AAI’s Army One System ground control equipment and Sparta’s extensive logistics support services, provides the U.S. Army with the low-risk, high value solution to meet operational requirements for persistent ISR mission execution.

About the Companies

Headquartered in San Diego, California, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. was established in 1993 to design, develop and deliver proven and reliable unmanned aircraft systems for various customers throughout the world. The IGNAT-ER is currently operational in combat with the U.S. Army. Predator aircraft procured by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and Italian Air Force have accumulated more than 120,000 flight hours. The prop jet Predator B is also operational with the U.S. Air Force. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft systems for a variety of mission applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, weapons delivery, scientific research, atmospheric monitoring and other commercial applications. For more information, please visit www.uav.com.

AAI Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation (UIC), is focused on the design, production and support of defense systems. AAI produces the Army's RQ-7 Shadow tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Shadow TUAVs have flown more than 17,000 combat hours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to unmanned aerial vehicle systems, AAI's products include test and simulation systems, automated aircraft test and maintenance equipment, and logistical/engineering services for government-owned equipment. The company is headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland. For more information, visit www.aaicorp.com or www.unitedindustrial.com.

SPARTA, Inc. is an employee-owned company headquartered in Lake Forest, California, with 20 offices located throughout the United States. As a systems engineering and advanced technology company with over 24 years of nationally recognized achievements, SPARTA is dedicated to serving the nation’s needs in the areas of strategic defensive and offensive systems, tactical weapons systems, space systems and management information systems. SPARTA’s strengths in system engineering, analysis, simulation, technology development, engineering services and logistics support made SPARTA an ideal teammate for logistics and supportability for the Extended Range Multi-Purpose Program. For more information, visit www.sparta.com.

Predator and I-GNAT are registered trademarks and Warrior is a trademark of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

For more information contact:

Kimberly Kasitz
Public Relations Manager
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
+1.858.455.2294 
kimberly.kasitz@uav.com

Sharon Corona
AAI Communications
+1 410.628.3184 
corona@aaicorp.com

Jerry Fabian
SPARTA, Inc.
+1 949.583.2305 
jerry.fabian@sparta.com