BAE SYSTEMS MONGOOSE MINEFIELD BREACHER SUCCESSFUL IN MAJOR FLIGHT TEST

AUSTIN, Texas -- BAE SYSTEMS' Mongoose countermine system recently underwent a key contractor test in the highly successful Flight Test 3 (FT3) at a U.S. Army test site. The next-generation minefield breaching system is under development for the U.S. Army by BAE SYSTEMS Integrated Defence Solutions, Austin, Texas, and will field with the Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams beginning in late 2006.

The flight test is part of a series of four to demonstrate the system's design. Success in the flight test phase of the program will lead to Army qualification and operational testing, currently scheduled for winter 2004.

The Mongoose system uses an innovative shaped-charge approach to minefield neutralisation that significantly improves current minefield breaching and mine neutralisation capability.

"These tests prove our basic design and constitute a major milestone to deploy Mongoose,� said Mongoose Test Engineer Debbie Cornell. "One contractor flight test remains, scheduled for late summer 2003, before BAE SYSTEMS begins system production for Government qualification and operational testing.�

The Mongoose is a rocket-deployed array of shaped charges that are launched across a minefield. It then detonates the mines to provide a high-confidence cleared lane for vehicle and personnel traffic. Mongoose is being executed for the U.S. Army Project Manager, Close Combat Systems, under a $60 million contract.