Trident Micro Systems

Trident Micro Systems and Aeroflex Announce Memorandum of Understanding for PassPort Trunking Technology

Arden, NC — December 16, 2003 — Trident Micro Systems and Aeroflex, Incorporated (Nasdaq:ARXX), a New York based company, announced today that the two parties have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement is an interim step while the parties continue negotiations for Trident Micro Systems ’ PassPort protocol to be used in Aeroflex ’s wireless communications test systems.

Under a final license agreement, Aeroflex would incorporate the PassPort protocol into the IFR2975 radio test set providing customers with the ability to analyze the PassPort technology currently deployed in the Land Mobile Radio market.

PassPort is an advanced trunking protocol developed by Trident Micro Systems. PassPort was engineered to provide system operators with maximum operational flexibility and efficiency with wide area trunked net-working and by utilizing sub-audible signaling.

Rhett Grotzinger, Vice-President of Trident Micro Systems stated, “Passport technology is firmly established as a premier trunking technology for Land Mobile Radio communications. With a rapidly growing installed base over 800 sites worldwide, Passport continues to be the choice of radio communication professionals for reliable and advanced trunked and networked wireless two-way communication systems. This MOU and subsequent license agreement will allow Aeroflex to sell the IFR2975 to new and existing customers utilizing PassPort technology.”

Rob Barden, Senior Product Marketing Manager,said, “The incorporation of PassPort technology into the IFR2975 radio test set will expand the market for advanced wireless communications test functions for this test system. We are looking forward to being able to support the latest trunked protocol that is experiencing significant growth in the wireless communication market.”

About Aeroflex
Aeroflex, Incorporated is a global provider of high technology solutions to the aerospace, defense and broad-band communication markets. The Company’s diverse technologies allow it to design, develop, manufacture and market a broad range of test, measurement and microelectronic products. The Company’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ARXX and is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 index. Additional information concerning Aeroflex, Incorporated can be found on the Company’s Web Site:www.aeroflex.com.

About Trident
Trident Micro Systems designs and manufactures innovative high quality infrastructure products for trunked radio system operators worldwide. These include the industry leading LTR trunking controllers and the NTS Networked Trunking System family of products. Trident’s PassPort trunking protocol is licensed by many leading radio equipment manufacturers. Trident Micro Systems’ parent company is Trident Datacom Tech- nologies, Inc. and is headquartered in Arden (Asheville), North Carolina. More information is available at Trident’s web site:www.tridentms.com.