CHELMSFORD, MA -- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY), a supplier of embedded real-time digital signal and image processing computer systems, today announced an agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) to supply its RACE(R) systems for use in the Federal Aviation Administration's Weather Systems Processor (WSP). The WSP is a significant enhancement to the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR-9) system produced by Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector (ES3), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. "Air traffic controllers and airport officials depend on the information provided by the WSP to ensure the safety of air travelers," said Tom Chrzanowski, Manager, Domestic ATC Radars at Northrop Grumman. "Mercury's high-performance, real-time digital signal processing systems provide our airport surveillance radar with the speed, accuracy and dependability required for such essential technology." The FAA's WSP systems represent a significant enhancement to Northrop Grumman's ASR-9 airport surveillance radar, enabling it to detect windshear and microburst conditions in the vicinity of major airports. At least 38 WSP units are planned for installation at ASR-9 sites that have experienced windshear and microburst activity, and do not have other detection systems installed. "For the past few years we have coupled our high-performance family of off-the-shelf products with Northrop Grumman's extensive experience in air traffic control radar systems," said Vince Mancuso, vice president and general manager, Government Electronics Group, Mercury Computer Systems. "The use of Mercury's products in the FAA's WSP will enable airports across the country to more quickly identify and react to severe weather conditions." Information gathered from WSP locations can be utilized by organizations such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) to aid in modeling and identifying future severe weather conditions. The NSSL, located in Norman, Oklahoma, investigates all aspects of severe weather and is one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's internationally known research laboratories. Additional information can be found at http://wx.tc.faa.gov/wsp.htm and www.mc.com