EADS North America Defense Test and Services Shaft Engine Test System Will Support the VH-71A U.S. Presidential Helicopter San Antonio, TX, April 11, 2006-- EADS North America Defense Test and Services has received a U.S. Navy contract to develop applications software for the Shaft Engine Test Instrumentation (SETI) program that enables the company's Shaft Engine Test System to support the new VH-71A U.S. Presidential helicopter. The U.S. Navy has previously designated the Shaft Engine Test System as the intermediate-level engine test platform for the U.S. Navy's rotary-wing fleet, and the service has ordered four of these systems to-date for deployment at various bases. The new contract covers EADS North America Defense Test and Services development of program software that allows the Shaft Engine Test System to test General Electric CT7-8 turboshaft engines which will be used on the U.S. President's new VH-71A helicopter. This contract is valued at $709,000 for the software and interface hardware design, documentation and testing. The company development work on the test software will begin immediately. "We are pleased the Navy is broadening its Shaft Engine Test requirement to include the support of helicopters that will carry the President of the United States," said Jim Mulato, EADS North America Defense Test and Services Executive Vice President and COO. "This further consolidates our position as a test system supplier of choice for the U.S. military." The Shaft Engine Test System replaces legacy manual test systems for aircraft engines, providing a more cost-effective and flexible testing solution with automated data capture, reporting, and transfer. The system is configured for the testing of T58, T700 and T64 turboshaft powerplants, which are used on a variety of Navy helicopters. It is the second member of a family of intermediate-level engine test platforms developed by EADS North America Defense Test and Services. The Shaft Engine Test System joins the company's Jet Engine Test System, 17 of which have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for use on both aircraft carriers and land-based facilities. The Jet Engine Test platforms are capable of testing the F414, F404, F110, F405, F402 and J52 jet engines, as well as auxiliary power units used on Navy aircraft. About EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. (formerly Racal Instruments) www.eads-nadefense.com EADS North America Defense Test and Services (formerly Racal Instruments) designs, manufactures, sells, and services electronic test and measurement equipment, systems and software to leading high-technology customers throughout the world. A business unit of EADS North America Defense, the company offers an extensive range of products and services, from modular instruments to turnkey automatic test systems. It is an industry leader in providing automatic test solutions and service excellence to military and civil aerospace automatic test markets. Among the key market sectors the company serves are military, aerospace, marine, medical, telecommunications, semiconductor and commercial manufacturing. Customers may contact the Sales Department by email at: Sales@eads-nadefense.com. Press Contacts and Complete List of Press Releases