10 February 2003

Dallas, TX – Smiths Aerospace has achieved two significant milestones on the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor program. An extensively modified Constant Frequency Generator (CFG) successfully passed its first flight test on 24 January at the U.S. Navy Test Center in Patuxent River, MD. Subsequent to achieving first flight, Boeing awarded the first production order for electric power components to Smiths. Deliveries of the components will begin in 2004 from the Vandalia, Ohio facility and will continue throughout the life of the program.

About the V-22 Constant Frequency Generator: The CFG is a derivative of the 40kVA Variable Speed Constant Frequency (VSCF) generator used on numerous advanced tactical military aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet series, the F-117A Stealth Fighter, the U-2 Dragon Lady, and the new KAI A/T-50 Golden Eagle. The USN V-22 qualification program consists of full MIL-SPEC environmental and performance testing that began in earnest in 2001; the first flight milestone is a critical gate for the CFG in achieving “production-qualified” status on the aircraft later in 2003. The new CFG makes available significant benefits to the MV-22/CV-22 Osprey programs, including improved reliability, less routine maintenance, lower total ownership costs and potentially lighter weight than the legacy system it replaces.

About Smiths: Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with 12,000 staff and $2 billion revenue split equally between Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace holds key positions in the supply chains on all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers supplying integrated solutions. Strategically organized businesses focus on systems in electronics, actuation, detection, security, and marine, as well as precision components and Systems Customer Services.