USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MOVES OUT OF DRY DOCK, ONE MONTH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AT NORTHROP GRUMMAN NEWPORT NEWS

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— December 16, 2002 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced today that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) has moved out of dry dock one month ahead of schedule and is halfway through its three year refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).

This is the ship's one and only refueling in a 50-year life-span. Eisenhower is the second ship of the Nimitz class to undergo this major life-cycle milestone.

"Reaching this important milestone one month early is the result of an aggressive effort on the part of the shipbuilders working the Eisenhower as well as a demonstration of the spirit of cooperation and teamwork between us and our Navy customer," said Bob Gunter, senior vice president, Aircraft Carrier Program, Northrop Grumman Newport News.

Captain Chuck Bush, program manager, In-service Aircraft Carriers, Program Executive Office for Aircraft Carriers for the U.S. Navy said, "The Navy is pleased with the early undocking of USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) at Northrop Grumman Newport News. This has been an exceptional teaming effort between the Navy and Northrop Grumman Newport News. The program office feels the shipyard is fully ready for the next phase of the RCOH and is working toward the delivery of the ship on schedule."

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrived at Newport News in May, 2001. The scope of work has included the refueling of both the ship’s reactors, as well as significant modernization work including a major upgrade of the island house where the shipyard is removing the top two levels of the island house and replacing them. This action is driven by the installation of a new antenna mast that runs down along the island and will provide for better radar capabilities. The shipyard is also integrating a new radar tower aboard Eisenhower.

Maintenance and repair work performed while the ship was in dry dock included the complete overhaul of the propellers and shafts and the application of a new underwater hull paint system. Eisenhower is now at an outfitting berth at Northrop Grumman Newport News. Work performed at this location will include the completion of the overhaul of the propulsion plant, habitability spaces, galleys, the outfitting of the combat spaces and an extensive test program to ensure ship readiness.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was built by Northrop Grumman Newport News and christened on October 11, 1975 by Mrs. Mamie Doud Eisenhower, wife of the ship’s namesake, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The ship was commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1977 and began its first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in January 1979. Since then, Eisenhower has been a powerful and effective Naval presence for over 22 years.

Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News, Va., is the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels, and has the capability to design, build and maintain every class of ship in the U.S. Navy's fleet. The Newport News sector employs about 18,000 people.