FILED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                             PURSUANT TO RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                             OF 1933 AND DEEMED FILED PURSUANT TO RULE
                             14D-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             SUBJECT COMPANY: NEWPORT NEWS
                             SHIPBUILDING INC.
                             COMMISSION FILE NO.: 1-12385

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Public Information
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California  90067-2199
Telephone:        310-553-6262
Fax:              310-556-4561

Contact:     Randy Belote (Media) (703) 875-8525
             Gaston Kent (Investors) (310) 201-3423

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORTHROP GRUMMAN TO PURSUE DISCUSSIONS
--------------------------------------
WITH NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING
------------------------------

     LOS ANGELES -- Oct. 5, 2001 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)
announced that it is pleased with today's decision by Newport News
Shipbuilding's (NYSE: NNS) Board of Directors to pursue discussions with
Northrop Grumman regarding the company's previously announced proposed
acquisition of Newport News.

     Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $15 billion global aerospace and
defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop
Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services
and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration,
information technology and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With
80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop
Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial
users.

     THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO SELL SHARES OF NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING. THE EXCHANGE OFFER
STATEMENT (INCLUDING THE PROSPECTUS, THE RELATED LETTER OF ELECTION AND
TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS) FILED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN WITH THE
SEC CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY
DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. THE PROSPECTUS, THE RELATED
LETTER OF ELECTION AND TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF NEWPORT NEWS. THE EXCHANGE
OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING THE PROSPECTUS, THE RELATED LETTER OF ELECTION
AND TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC) WILL ALSO BE
AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THIS SEC'S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.
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