Merrimac Receives $2.1 Million Missile Defense Program Orders from Raytheon

WEST CALDWELL, N.J., April 24, 2003: Merrimac Industries, Inc. (AMEX: MRM), today announced that it has received orders totaling $2.1 Million from Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. Merrimac is to provide a variety of signal processing products to be used in Raytheon's X-Band Radar (XBR) program.

XBR is high-powered, phased-array radar designed to meet near-term ballistic missile threats from rogue states. The XBR, a key element in the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system is a large, phased-array fire control sensor, featuring precision discrimination and interceptor support.

Chairman and CEO Mason N. Carter commented, "This contract clearly illustrates our strong competency of providing innovative, complex, Total Integrated Packaging Solutions® to major defense companies. Over the years, we have had a long working relationship with Raytheon. Our designs provide creative, value solutions based upon almost fifty years of RF microwave component/subsystem design and manufacturing process expertise.

"Merrimac was selected to participate in the XBR program because of its ability to provide designs which enhanced the overall performance of Raytheon's XBR system. In addition, Merrimac has also demonstrated "production readiness" to meet Raytheon's delivery requirements."

About Merrimac

Merrimac Industries, Inc. is a leader in the design and manufacture of Multi-Mix PICO RF Microwave components, assemblies and micro-multifunction modules (MMFM), serving the wireless telecommunications industry worldwide with enabling technologies for space, defense and commercial applications. Merrimac is focused on providing Total Integrated Packaging Solutions® with Multi-Mix® Microtechnology, a leading edge competency providing value to our customers through miniaturization and integration. The Multi-Mix process for microwave, multilayer integrated MMFM circuitry is a patented method developed by Merrimac Industries based on fluoropolymer composite substrates. The fusion bonding of multilayer structures provides a homogeneous dielectric medium for superior electrical performance at microwave frequencies. The bonded layers may incorporate embedded semiconductor devices, MMICs, etched resistors, passive circuit elements and plated-through via holes to form a three-dimensional subsystem enclosure that requires no further packaging. Merrimac Industries facilities are registered under ISO 9000, an internationally developed set of quality criteria for manufacturing operations.

Merrimac Industries, Inc. and its subsidiary Filtran Microcircuits Inc., are located in West Caldwell, NJ, San Jose, Costa Rica and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and have approximately 220 co-workers dedicated to the design and manufacture of signal processing components, gold plating of high-frequency microstrip, bonded stripline and thick metal-backed Teflon (PTFE) micro-circuitry and subsystems providing Total Integrated Packaging Solutions for wireless applications. Merrimac (MRM) is listed on the American Stock Exchange. Multi-Mix, Multi-Mix PICO, MMFM and Total Integrated Packaging Solutions are trademarks of Merrimac Industries, Inc. For more information about Merrimac Industries, Inc. and Filtran Microcircuits Inc., please visit http://www.merrimacind.com and http://www.filtranmicro.com.

About Raytheon Company

Raytheon Company, with 2002 sales of $16.8 billion, is an industry leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 76,000 people worldwide.

This press release contains statements relating to future results of the Company (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic and industry conditions; slower than anticipated penetration into the satellite communications, defense and wireless markets; the risk that the benefits expected from the acquisition of Filtran Microcircuits Inc. are not realized; the ability to protect proprietary information and technology; competitive products and pricing pressures; the risk that the Company will not be able to continue to raise sufficient capital to expand its operations as currently contemplated by its business strategy; risks relating to governmental regulatory actions in communications and defense programs; risks associated with demand for and market acceptance of existing and newly developed products; and inventory risks due to technological innovation and product obsolescence, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note: Merrimac news releases are also available on the Internet at: http://www.prnewswire.com.