Blade is based on IBM® Cell BE processor.

Press Release Summary:



Based on IBM's BladeCenter® design, Dual Cell-Based Blade includes XDR(TM) memory from Rambus Inc. and offers peak performance of 400 GFLOPS. Software environment runs on Linux® OS, and Eclipse-based open source software framework integrates compilers, debuggers, math libraries, utilities, and middleware. Scalable to 7 blades in 7U configuration, Dual Cell-Based Blade provides up to 2.8 teraFLOPS of processing performance in 7U form factor, and up to 16 teraFLOPS in a 6 ft rack.



Original Press Release:



Mercury Computer Systems Announces the First Cell BE Processor-Based Product for Industrial, Medical, and Military Markets



Initial Orders Expected for Early-Access System

CHELMSFORD, Mass., Oct. 6 /-- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRCY) announced the Dual Cell-Based Blade, Mercury's first product based on the IBM(R) Cell BE (Broadband Engine) processor. As announced in June 2005, Mercury is partnering with IBM Engineering & Technology Services to integrate Cell technology into a range of products designed to address computationally intensive applications in aerospace and defense, seismic, semiconductor test, and medical imaging, as well as other markets. Availability of the Dual Cell-Based Blade is planned for Q1 of calendar 2006, and production is planned for the following quarter.

The Dual Cell-Based Blade, based on IBM's industry-leading BladeCenter(R) design, will offer unprecedented peak performance of 400 GFLOPS and feature two IBM Cell BE processors, as well as XDR(TM) memory from Rambus Inc. An online data sheet is available at www.mc.com/cell.

Detailed specifications of this product have been shared under NDA with various customers, and initial orders for early-access systems are anticipated in the near-term.

In keeping with Mercury's strategy to leverage open standards where available, the Dual Cell-Based Blade software environment will run on the Linux(R) OS, and Mercury will provide the Eclipse-based open source software framework necessary to harness the tremendous processing power of the Cell processor architecture -- integrating the compilers, debuggers, math libraries, utilities and middleware in a seamless fashion.

Utilizing the open standards that IBM delivered through its development and offering of the BladeCenter ecosystem, the Dual Cell-Based Blade will be available in the IBM BladeCenter platform, which integrates server, storage, and networking functionality to provide upward scalability and performance density for computing needs in a variety of applications. Scalable to seven blades in a 7U configuration, the Dual Cell-Based Blade is expected to provide up to 2.8 teraFLOPS of processing performance in a 7U form factor, and up to 16 teraFLOPS in a six-foot rack.

"We are delighted to get this product to market so quickly, and the Engineering & Technology Services unit at IBM has been instrumental in making this happen," said Randy Dean, vice president, Business and Technology Development at Mercury. "A number of customers are eager to have access to this breakthrough blade solution. Some of these customers plan to place the Dual Cell-Based Blade into production immediately, while others will leverage the system as an application development platform."

"Through exceptional teamwork, Mercury and IBM are bringing innovative, advanced new products to customers. These solutions have the ability to transform not only business processes, but entire industries," said Raj Desai, vice president, Engineering & Technology Services, IBM. "The strength of the combined portfolio and skills allows this partnership to tackle and solve customers' most pressing computing problems with breakthrough solutions. Mercury's passion for enabling customer success mirrors that of the IBM team."

For more information on the Dual Cell-Based Blade, contact us at mc.com/cell/register.cfm or at 866-627-6951.

About Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRCY) is the leading provider of high-performance embedded, real-time digital signal and image processing solutions. Mercury's solutions play a critical role in a wide range of applications, transforming sensor data to information for analysis and interpretation. In military reconnaissance and surveillance platforms the Company's systems process real-time radar, sonar, and signals intelligence data. Mercury's systems are also used in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic imaging devices including MRI, PET, and digital X-ray, and in semiconductor imaging applications including photomask generation and wafer inspection. Mercury provides advanced 3D image processing and visualization software and optimized systems to diverse end markets including life sciences, geosciences, and simulation. The Company also provides radio frequency (RF) products for enhanced communications capabilities in military and commercial applications.

Based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mercury serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia through its direct sales force and a network of subsidiaries and distributors. Visit Mercury on the web at www.mc.com.

IBM and BladeCenter are trademarks of International Business Machines. XDR is a trademark of Rambus Inc. The registered trademark Linux(R) is used pursuant to a license from Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark in the U.S. and other countries. Product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Kathy Donahue, Public Relations Manager of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc., +1-978-967-1126, kdonahue@mc.com

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