ORBITAL RECEIVES CONTRACT FOR LANTIRN BOMB IMPACT ASSESSMENT SOLID-STATE VIDEO RECORDER
Company's Fairchild Defense Division Selected for its Sixth Solid-State
(Dulles, VA 18 September 2000) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that its Fairchild Defense division, a leading supplier of sophisticated avionics systems for high-performance military aircraft, has received a development contract to provide a digital solid-state video recorder for the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) Bomb Impact Assessment (BIA) program. Orbital's LANTIRN Digital Recorder will support the U.S. Air Force's plans to improve the targeting pod by adding digital recording of the forward-looking infrared sensor image. The contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, Florida is valued at $1.1 million and has production phase options for $2.6 million.
The LANTIRN solid-state video recorder uses technology originally developed for Fairchild's F-22, Mirage 2000 and Airborne Video Solid-State Recorder (AVSRTM) programs. It consists of an intelligent receptacle and a small, removable and lightweight solid-state memory cartridge, which is fully interoperable with Fairchild's standard advanced data transfer cartridge that is used for the F-22, F-16 Block 60, Mirage 2000 and AVSR.
The company's highly reliable video recorder contains no moving parts and records video using the industry standard motion JPEG compression algorithm. Orbital utilizes motion JPEG for this program to meet the frame-by-frame resolution requirements needed for accurate bomb impact assessment. Other Orbital solid-state video recording programs use MPEG technology for recording head-up displays and other multi-function displays on high performance fighter aircraft. Playback of the video on the ground is accomplished through a simple interface with a standard personal computer.
In addition to the LANTIRN program, orders for Orbital's solid-state video recording products are highlighted by their use aboard Lockheed Martin Corporation's F-22 and international F-16 fighter aircraft platforms.
Orbital's Fairchild Defense division manages the development, production, integration and testing of a wide array of advanced electronics and avionics systems for use in military aircraft, helicopters and land vehicles. Fairchild Defense is also a leading supplier of airborne solid-state memory devices for military applications throughout the world. To learn more about Orbital's Fairchild Defense division, visit the Defense Electronics section of the company's web site at http://www.orbital.com/FairchildDefense
For more information on the LANTIRN system, visit the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control web site at http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com
Orbital is one of the largest space technology and satellite services companies in the world, with 1999 total enterprise revenues (including revenues from unconsolidated affiliates) of approximately $915 million. The company, headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, employs over 5,000 people at major facilities in the U.S., Canada and several overseas locations. Orbital is the world's leading manufacturer of low-cost space systems, including satellites and space robotics, launch vehicles, electronics and sensors, satellite ground systems and related digital infrastructure. Its Magellan subsidiary is a pioneer in satellite-based navigation and communications products for consumer and industrial markets. Through its ORBCOMM and ORBIMAGE affiliates and ORBNAV subsidiary, Orbital is also a major operator of satellite-based networks that provide data communications, high-resolution imagery and automotive information services to customers around the world.
Contact: Barron Beneski, 7034065000, beneski.barron@orbital.com
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