Ceradyne's Lightweight Armor Completes Successful Test by U.S. Army for Advanced LTAS Application

(Costa Mesa, Calif., December 7, 2007) -- Ceradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRDN) has been notified by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) that Ceradyne's alternate lightweight armor materials - submitted in response to the Army's Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) requirements for advanced armor solutions for application on the tactical wheel vehicle fleet - have successfully completed testing by TACOM's LTAS team. Testing was conducted at the U.S. Army's Research Labs, Aberdeen, Maryland.

"This is a significant accomplishment for Ceradyne and the potential use of advanced lightweight ceramic composite materials," said Marc King, Vice President Armor Operations. "It is the culmination of an eighteen month development effort including testing and data collection necessary to meet the Army's stringent performance requirements and demonstrates that Ceradyne's advanced armor materials can meet ballistic specifications with significant savings in weight compared to steel solutions. Ceradyne's advanced armoring materials are now a step closer to being made fully available to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) truck manufacturers on a pre-approved basis whereby they can be incorporated into existing production and future vehicle cab designs." Ceradyne Vehicle Armor Systems is in discussions regarding a pending order from truck manufacturer Oshkosh Truck for the first alternative LTAS lightweight materials armor kit anticipated to be installed on all composite lightweight "A3" HEMTT crew cabs in early 2008.

King also noted that this success is expected to support other requirements for advanced armor materials, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), which will also incorporate an "A" and "B" Kit armor application design philosophy much like the current requirements of LTAS. "We believe the high level of performance of our lightweight alternate LTAS materials demonstrates Ceradyne's leadership in this area of endeavor and directly addresses the Army's desire to enhance overall crew survivability in the tactical wheel vehicle fleet," said King.

Source : Ceradyne Inc.

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