BOSTON, MA -- August 26,1996 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (Los Angeles, CA) and Teradyne, Inc. (Boston, MA) today announced that they have reached an agreement to integrate Teradyne's M900 VXI digital test subsystem hardware and software into the Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE). IFTE, originally developed by Northrop Grumman's Electronics & Systems Integration Division (ESID) for the Army, is one of the standard automatic test system (ATS) families designated by Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition policy for use in field, depot, and manufacturing test. More than 130 IFTE testers have been delivered to date.

"Teradyne is the leading supplier of high-performance digital test solutions to the DoD. With their proven commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) digital technology and Northrop Grumman's expertise in integrating modular analog, digital, and RF test systems, we can provide a cost-effective performance upgrade to the IFTE family and make IFTE applicable to a wider spectrum of programs throughout the DoD," says Don Kump, vice president of Test and Electronics Programs, Northrop Grumman's ESID.

Teradyne's M900 VXI digital test subsystem provides up to 50-MHz dynamic digital testing and diagnostics at up to 512 test channels. Packaged in an industry-standard VXI chassis, the M900 integrates easily into automated test systems.

"Northrop Grumman's successful track record with IFTE and other military test programs makes them a valuable partner in Teradyne's efforts to support the DoD's initiatives to standardize on ATS families, critical interfaces, and use of COTS hardware and software," says Bob Feingold, vice president and general manager of Teradyne's Assembly Test Boston division.

As a result of the Northrop Grumman-Teradyne teaming agreement, work on integrating Teradyne's digital test subsystem into the IFTE ATS family will begin immediately. Initial deliveries of upgraded IFTE systems are targeted for the first half
of 1997.

Northrop Grumman's ESID is a world class developer of automatic test systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, foreign military and commercial industry. For over 35 years, Northrop Grumman test products have supported the U.S. military worldwide at the organizational, intermediate, depot, and factory levels of maintenance.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, is a leading designer, systems integrator, and manufacturer of military surveillance and combat aircraft, defense electronics and systems, airspace management, information systems, marine propulsion, precision weapons, and commercial and military aerostructures.

Boston-based Teradyne, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of automatic test equipment and backplane assemblies and connectors. The company's Assembly Test Boston division is the world's leading supplier of COTS systems and subsystems for automatic testing of military electronics.