Aerojet EKV DACS Delivers in Fourth Successful Missile Defense Intercept Test

'Hit-to-Kill' Objective Met Over Pacific Waters

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 26, 2002 -- Aerojet's liquid propellant Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) performed as expected in the most recent missile defense intercept test on Friday, March 15. Aerojet's DACS maneuvered the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) to an intercept and destruction of a mock enemy missile in space over the Pacific Ocean. This was the third successful test in a row, showing the repeatability of the system.

"Aerojet's EKV DACS thrusters fired as commanded and steered the kill vehicle into a direct collision with the target. This achieved the test's 'hit-to-kill' objective," said Warren Yasuhara, Aerojet EKV DACS program manager.

The integrated system test (IFT-8) of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program - formerly called the National Missile Defense program - began at 6:44 p.m. Pacific Standard Time with the launch of the OSC Orbit/sub-orbital Target Launch Vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Twenty minutes later, a Payload Launch Vehicle carrying the EKV was launched from the Reagan Test Site in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Target Launch Vehicle was a refurbished Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile with an Aerojet second-stage, solid propellant motor. The same Aerojet motor was used on the Payload Launch Vehicle as a first stage. Aerojet modified the motor for first-stage use under the U.S. Air Force Rocket Systems Launch Program.

Aerojet supplies the DACS to The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) for integration into the EKV. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space provides the Payload Launch Vehicle, and Orbital Sciences provides the Target Launch Vehicle to launch the target complex. Boeing is the prime contractor for the GMD program, which is directed by the Joint Program Office of the Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency.

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets. Aerojet's Web site address is http://www.aerojet.com.

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