operations. Because of the uncertainty as to the ultimate amount and timing of additional U.S. Army and Army National Guard orders that we could receive, our sales and profitability can continue to fluctuate dramatically. Net sales in our RF microwave amplifiers segment were $26.7 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2007, compared to $36.1 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2006, a decrease of $9.4 million, or 26.0%. The decrease in net sales was due to lower sales, as anticipated, of our amplifiers that are incorporated into improvised explosive device jamming systems. Our RF microwave amplifiers segment represented 8.1% and 12.4% of consolidated net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. International sales (which include sales to U.S. companies for inclusion in products which are sold to international customers) represented 26.8% and 36.7% of consolidated net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Domestic commercial sales represented 12.7% and 16.8% of consolidated net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Sales to the U.S. government (including sales to prime contractors to the U.S. government) represented 60.5% and 46.5% of consolidated net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. During the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, one customer, a prime contractor, represented 6.0% and 11.2% of consolidated net sales, respectively. Direct and indirect sales to a North African country (including certain sales to the prime contractor mentioned above) during the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 represented 3.5% and 11.4% of consolidated net sales, respectively. Gross Profit. Gross profit was $140.8 million and $115.5 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, representing an increase of $25.3 million, or 21.9%. The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to the increase in net sales discussed above, as well as an increase in the gross profit percentage to 42.9% for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 from 39.7% for the nine months ended April 30, 2006. As discussed below, we recorded favorable cumulative adjustments to certain long-term contracts, which were partially offset by a firmware-related warranty provision in both periods. Excluding the impact of adjustments to both net sales and gross profit, as discussed below, our gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 would have been 41.1% and 38.9%, respectively. The increase in the gross profit percentage was primarily due to (i) a higher proportion of our consolidated net sales occurring in our telecommunications transmission segment, which typically realizes higher margins than our other two segments; (ii) increased gross margins within our telecommunications segment primarily due to the benefit of higher sales of our new 16 Mbps troposcatter modem upgrade kits, (iii) increased operating efficiencies in our mobile data communications segment, including the benefit of our decision to significantly de-emphasize stand-alone sales of low margin turnkey employee mobility solutions, and (iv) the reduction in our estimated reserve for warranty obligations by $0.7 million due to lower than anticipated claims on a large over-the-horizon microwave system contract whose warranty period has expired. During the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, we recorded favorable cumulative gross profit adjustments of $7.5 million (of which $6.4 million related to the mobile data communications segment and $1.1 million related to the telecommunications transmission segment) and $6.1 million (of which $5.5 million related to the mobile data communications segment and $0.6 million related to the RF microwave amplifiers segment), respectively, relating to our ongoing review of total estimated contract revenues and costs, and the related gross margin at completion, on long-term contracts. The adjustments in both periods were partially offset by a firmware-related warranty provision discussed below. In our mobile data communications segment, during the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, we increased the estimated gross profit at completion on the MTS contract, which resulted in a cumulative increase to the gross profit recognized in prior periods of $6.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively. These adjustments were the result of increased funding from the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, as well as improved operating efficiencies. Included in cost of sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 is a firmware-related warranty provision related to modifying units previously shipped to non-MTS customers of $0.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively. As discussed in our “Critical Accounting Policies – Provision for Warranty Obligations,” we periodically review and update our estimate of future warranty expense. Included in cost of sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 are provisions for excess and obsolete inventory of $2.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. As discussed in our “Critical Accounting Policies – Provisions for Excess and Obsolete Inventory,” we regularly review our inventory and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based on historical and projected usage assumptions. |