License Agreement between Kockums/HDW and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems

License Agreement between Kockums/HDW and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Kockums has taken another positive step in developing cooperation with the US Defence Company Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS). Over the last few months Kockums, it´s mother company HDW and NGSS have agreed to the terms of a license agreement which would allow NGSS to incorporate advanced carbon fibre technology used to produce the Visby Corvettes into NGSS bid to provide the US Navy with a new ship class designed specifically for Littoral Warfare and the Littoral Combat Ship. The agreement was further developed and reaffirmed in conjunction with the launching of the second corvette of the Visby Class, HMS Helsingborg, in Karlskrona today. "From Kockums perspective, this is an extremely position development reflecting a Kockums position as developer of cutting edge technology in ship constructions especially in stealth charecteristics and composite technology" says Martin Hagbyhn, Kockums President. "Kockums unique technology and experience has given us the opportunity to play a leading role in developing naval technology for the future and should result in significant commercial and economic benefit to us and to the entire Swedish Defence Industry", he also says. The US Navy is presently evaluating six offers to develop a preliminary design for a Littoral Combat Ship and is expected to downselect to three teams by end of July. In addition to US Navy applications, the Kockums technology is also being including the US Cost Guards Deepwater Program. NGSS will be represented at the Helsingborg launching by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Joy Foley, VP of NGSS who is responsible for all composite applications and Bob Conrad the LCS program manager. The agreement must have an approval from the government. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further information, please contact Kjell Göthe, Senior Vice President/PR & Communications at Kockums, on + 46 (0)734 34 28 88. Kockums stands for leading edge, world-class naval technology - above and below the surface. We design, build and maintain submarines and naval systems that incorporate the most advanced stealth technology. Other successful products include the Stirling Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, submarine rescue systems and mine clearance systems. The Submarine Division is based in Malmö and the Surface Vessel Division, including all production facilities, in Karlskrona. Kockums has 1200 employees in Sweden, and is part of the German HDW Group. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/06/27/20030627BIT00070/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/06/27/20030627BIT00070/wkr0002.pdf