SLOVAKIA NATIONAL IFF UPGRADE AWARDED TO BAE SYSTEMS

The Republic of Slovakia has signed a contract with BAE Systems to upgrade its national Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.

The contract, awarded to the company’s Communication, Navigation, Identification and Reconnaissance (CNIR) business unit, is the first in a five-year series of contracts with a total estimated $25 million value. The first year’s contract is valued at $3 million and represents the first direct military sale from the U.S. to Slovakia, which is joining the NATO alliance in the near future.

BAE Systems CNIR is one of the world’s leading producers of IFF products.

“We are looking forward to meeting Slovakia’s need for a critical part of their national defence,” said CNIR business unit president Jeff Markel. “In this growing alliance, we will be among the first in assisting the Republic to upgrade its capabilities for a secure airspace.”

The first year of the contract will include Long Range IFF interrogators for ground-based radar platforms, as well as transponders for the defence force’s Mi-2, Mi-17, L-39, L-410 and An-24 aircraft.

Later years will include further installations of interrogators and transponders throughout Slovakia’s defence forces, as well as training, systems integration and logistics support.

About Identification Friend or Foe systems:
IFF systems enable defence forces to recognise friendly aircraft, ground and waterborne forces. This information provides the critical lead-time to counter an attack, or to prevent friendly or coalition forces from damage.

The system employs U.S. and NATO-adopted secure message formats to positively identify coalition and friendly national forces and determine targets in the immediate area and well beyond a pilot’s visual range.

About BAE SYSTEMS:
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately £12 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

BAE Systems North America is a high-technology U.S. company employing more than 25,000 people who live and work in some 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. The company is dedicated to solving its customers’ needs with highly innovative and leading edge solutions across the defence electronics, systems, information technology, and services arenas.

BAE Systems Communication, Navigation, Identification and Reconnaissance, headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, is a team of more than 2,200 professionals unifying the force with technically superior solutions that transform the armed forces’ communication, situational awareness, mobility, and mission effectiveness.

For further information please contact:
John Dench, BAE Systems Communication, Navigation, Identification and Reconnaissance
Tel: +1 973 633 3453  Mobile: +1 973 879 6696

www.na.baesystems.com

Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605  Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com

Ref: 189/2003