USS PORTER HAILED AS ‘READY TO SAIL...READY TO SERVE...READY TO WIN!’

PORT CANAVERAL, Florida, March 20, 1999 – The United States is "an island nation, dependent upon the sea lanes for trade and commerce...and a strong United States Navy is vital to America’s security and well being," U.S. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said here this morning. "Today, the Navy leads the way as our military forces contribute to peace and stability in troubled areas around the world. This fine Aegis destroyer, this ‘Champion of Freedom,’ that we commission this morning will play a major role in maintaining our country’s naval superiority."

Senator Cochran’s remarks came as the United States Navy commissioned USS PORTER (DDG 78) before more than 5,000 guests on hand for a stirring, patriotic ceremony held at the Naval Ordnance Training Unit in Port Canaveral. The new ship is the 12th Aegis destroyer delivered into the fleet by the men and women of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, and the 55th Aegis-equipped surface combatant commissioned for fleet service since 1983, of which 31 were built by Ingalls.

"USS PORTER is the most modern, most capable warship in the world today," Senator Cochran, a Navy veteran, said. "This morning’s ceremony marks the end of a period of hard and skilled labor to construct and test the ship, and signals the beginning of decades of adventure on the high seas. The crew of this ship has worked long and hard, shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of Ingalls Shipbuilding, ensuring that PORTER is ready to sail, ready to serve, and, most importantly, ready to win if battle is necessary."

Aegis destroyers are equipped to conduct a variety of missions, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of national military strategy. These multimission ships provide primary protection for the Navy's aircraft carriers and battle groups, as well as essential escort to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships and convoys. Four gas turbine engines power the 505-foot, 8,850-ton destroyer to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

At the end of DDG 78's commissioning, Admiral Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, placed the new ship in commission for duty with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s Destroyer Squadron 2, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. Admiral Johnson’s wife, Mrs. Garland Johnson, Ship’s Sponsor for USS PORTER, then proudly screamed the traditional naval order "bring her to life!" USS PORTER's 340 officers and crewmembers responded with a hearty "Aye Aye, Ma’am!", and then ran to their positions along the new ship’s railings, to the rousing applause of the ceremony guests.

Commander Kenneth V. Spiro Jr., USN, a native of Hopewell Junction, New York, and a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is now in command of the destroyer.

DDG 78 is named to honor the heroic service of a father and son, Commodore David Porter (1780-1843), and his son, Vice Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813-1891), whose combined legendary naval exploits earned them a place of honor in U.S. Navy history. Four previous ships have borne the name PORTER into fleet service, including a steam torpedo boat (TB-6), which served from 1897-1912, and three destroyers, DDs 59, 356 and 800. Dozens of veteran crewmembers from DD 356 and DD 800 drew a standing ovation from the commissioning guests when introduced during the ceremony.

"This ship has much of the Navy’s history reflected in its name," Senator Cochran said. "I am confident that Commander Spiro, his officers and crew are well prepared to live up to the name and the examples of this ship’s namesakes, and the men of the previous ships named PORTER."

Ingalls President Jerry St. Pe’, senior vice president of Ingalls’ parent corporation, Litton Industries, hailed Senator Cochran’s "leadership in Congress...all of Mississippi is proud to have Thad Cochran as our senator; and this nation is fortunate to have him among those in Congress leading the way in the process to ensure a strong, ready Navy fleet," he said.

"The crew of PORTER and the shipbuilders of Ingalls have a lot in common," St. Pe’ continued, "they are made of ‘The Right Stuff.’ The men and women of Ingalls delivered this new ship eight months ahead of schedule and within budget. And I commit to our Navy customers gathered here today that we will do all that we need to do at Ingalls to continue to merit your confidence in us by building quality ships, by building them on time, and by building them within budget."

Vice Admiral Henry C. Giffin III, USN, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, welcomed PORTER to the Atlantic Fleet, "with open arms, on behalf of the our other 119 ships...we are ready for you, you are ready, and we wish you the most wonderful success."

"This commissioning is a joyous event," said Vice Admiral George P. Nanos, USN, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, "a day to be never forgotten by her crew, or by the thousands of craftsmen at places like Ingalls Shipbuilding, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, United Defense, and hundreds of other locations, who have put their hearts and souls, and their skills into this ship. Bringing a ship like PORTER into the fleet requires a government-industry team working together hand in glove. The people who produced PORTER have spent their whole lives learning the crafts on display this morning. They have produced a part of our nation...built to go in harm’s way and represent us."

Construction of DDG 78 began at Ingalls on December 18, 1995. The ship's keel was laid on December 2, 1996. DDG 78 was launched on November 12, 1997, and sailed into the Gulf of Mexico for her first sea trials on November 2, 1998. The ship was delivered to the Navy by Ingalls on January 11, 1999.

Rear Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN, Director, Surface Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, called DDG 78's commissioning, "the birth of a potent new member of our fleet, one whose namesakes bring forth memories of success in both peacetime and in combat. As we stand on the crest of the 21st century, we face a demand for our naval forces seemingly unmatched in our peacetime history. USS PORTER, built by our exceptional teammates from Ingalls Shipbuilding, is another asset to help quench the thirst for peace and stability throughout the world – with the high-tech firepower and ability to immediately respond to a crisis."

Rear Admiral William W. Cobb Jr., USN, Program Executive Officer, Theater Surface Combatants, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development & Acquisition, paid tribute to the

"thousands of people involved in the government-industry team entrusted by our leadership, by our Congress, and by our customer, the people of the United States, to take our Navy into the new millennium." Aegis destroyers are equipped with the Navy’s modern Aegis combat weapons systems, which combines space-age communication, radar and weapons technologies in a single platform for unlimited mission flexibility.

DDG 78 carries Tomahawk Cruise missiles, as well as Standard missiles to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles at extended ranges. Both Tomahawk and Standard missiles are launched from forward and aft Vertical Launching Systems (VLS). DDG 78 is also equipped with Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles, which have a range in excess of 65 nautical miles and are fired from standalone launchers, and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).

USS PORTER's multimission 5"/54 caliber gun can be used as an anti-ship weapon, close-in point defense or in support of forces ashore with naval surface fire support. Its undersea warfare suite is the most advanced system in the world. The Tactical Towed-Array Sonar provides long range passive detection of enemy submarines. The hull-mounted sonar, can detect and track submarines actively and passively. DDG 78 features the over-the-horizon LAMPS MK III anti-submarine warfare control system, as well as the SH-60B Seahawk undersea warfare helicopter.

Ingalls Shipbuilding is a major designer and builder of surface combatant ships for the U.S. Navy and allied nations, as well as of cruise ships and other commercial marine products. Lead shipbuilder for five of the newest classes of U.S. Navy surface combatants, Ingalls has delivered 77 major surface warships into the Navy's Fleet since 1975, a significant portion of the surface combatants delivered during the period. Litton Industries (NYSE: LIT) is also a leader in worldwide technology markets and advanced defense, electronic and information systems.