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VSI awarded JHMCS contracts valued at more than $120 million

SAN JOSE, Calif. (April 29, 2009) - Vision Systems International, LLC (VSI), a leader in advanced Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) technology, has received several new contracts with a total value of more than $120 million.

Photo of a pilot equipped with JHMCSThe Boeing Company awarded VSI a contract for the delivery of more than 550 additional Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS). VSI also received direct contracts from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force for spares and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) in support of the JHMCS program.

Under the production contract, VSI will provide JHMCS hardware, including spares, technical support and GSE for the Full Rate Production - Lot 5 (FRP-5) acquisition. This procurement fills U.S. government domestic requirements for the U.S. Air Force F-15E and F-16, Air National Guard F-15, U.S. Navy F/A-18C/D/E/F/G single seat and dual seat platforms, as well as foreign military sales production and spares commitments including: Australia (F/A-18), Belgium (F-16), Turkey (F-16), and other countries. Deliveries under FRP-5 will commence this year and continue through 2010.

"With the delivery of more than 3,000 systems, the JHMCS is the world's premier helmet display for fixed-wing tactical aircraft," says VSI President Drew Brugal. "The system provides the warfighter with unmatched situation awareness throughout the operational profile of the jet. By keeping 'eyes out' while viewing all critical information on the helmet visor, the pilot has a significant advantage in both air-to-air and air-to-ground mission execution."

Brugal added that the award will have a substantial economic impact with the creation of high quality jobs in the San Jose area.

The JHMCS provides the pilot with "first look, first shot" high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilities. The system enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets without the need to aggressively turn the aircraft or place the target in the Head-Up Display (HUD) field-of-view for designation. Critical information and symbology, such as targeting cues and aircraft performance parameters, are graphically displayed directly on the pilot's visor.

Formed in 1996, VSI, is a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT), and Rockwell Collins Inc. (NYSE: COL). VSI was formed to develop, manufacture and support fixed wing Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) worldwide. VSI today is a leading supplier of fixed-wing HMDs worldwide. In addition to the JHMCS production, VSI is developing the advanced HMD for the F-35 (JSF); a Night Vision Cueing & Display (NVCD) QuadEye™ system for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force; Helmet Mounted Avionics (HMA) solution for Trainers, Light Attack and Military Airlift; and is also producing the Display and Sight Helmet (DASH) Generation IV HMD under multiple contracts.

This press release contains statements (including certain projections associated with VSI providing the JHMCS to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force) that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to U.S. government spending and budgetary policies; potential cancellation or amendments of awards or orders by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force; challenges in the design, development and production of advanced technologies; and competitive product and pricing pressures; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in Rockwell Collins Inc.'s and Elbit Systems Ltd. in their Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof.

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