Thousand Oaks, CA—March 17, 2004. TECOM Industries, Inc., a Smiths Interconnect company, today announced that TECOM was awarded a contract for delivery of 28,000 Iridium retractable mobile antennas to meet the increasing demands on Iridium's reliable Mobile Satellite Communication service worldwide. This is a follow-on contract to the previous award for 30,000 Iridium antennas let in June of last year.

The Iridium mobile antenna exhibits superior performance characteristics and supports all forms of data and voice communications over the Iridium satellite network. This satellite network provides critical interconnectivity in remote locations around the world. TECOM's robust L-Band antenna is designed for severe weather environment and has a 360-swivel rotation for maximum signal strength for both up and down link communication.

About TECOM Industries, Inc.

Established in 1971, TECOM Industries, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of antennas and antenna systems for the wireless communications, RFID, SATCOM, aerospace, and military markets. For more information about TECOM, please call (805) 267-0100 or visit our web site at www.tecom-ind.com.

About Smiths Interconnect

Smiths Interconnect, a division of Smiths Group, is a global provider of electronic application specific components and sub-systems for the electronics interconnect, telecommunications, medical, industrial, aerospace as well as military and satellite markets worldwide.

Smiths Interconnect businesses comprise of; EMC Technology, Florida RF Labs, Hypertac Interconnect, LEA International, PolyPhaser, Radio Waves, Sabritec, Summitek Instruments, TECOM Industries Inc., Times Microwave Systems, TRAK Microwave, Transtector Systems, Smiths Interconnect Shanghai and Smiths Interconnect Japan. Each business is a leader in its field and trades under their own strong brand name.