Exhibit 99


[logo]
[ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.______________________________________________

                                    201 Evans Lane  o  St. Louis, MO 63121-1126


For further information, please contact:
Daniel E. Kreher
314/553-4915


              ENGINEERED SUPPORT ANNOUNCES 3-FOR-2 STOCK SPLIT;
                        SHAREHOLDERS ELECT DIRECTORS,
                   RATIFY NON-EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN


         ST. LOUIS, MO., MARCH 1, 2005 - ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
(Nasdaq: EASI) today announced the approval by the Company's Board of
Directors of a 3-FOR-2 STOCK SPLIT, which will be made in the form of a 50%
stock dividend. The additional shares will be distributed on April 15, 2005
to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2005.
Engineered Support currently has approximately 27.3 million shares of common
stock outstanding, and, after the split, the number of shares outstanding
will increase to approximately 41 million. The semi-annual cash dividend of
$.018 (or 1.8 cents) per share will remain unchanged, according to MICHAEL
F. SHANAHAN, SR., CHAIRMAN.

Shanahan commented, "This current 50% stock dividend represents the fourth
stock split that we've undertaken within the past four years. The additional
liquidity and share float provided to our stockholders from previous splits
has certainly enhanced long-term shareholder value. The 3-for-2 share split
expresses the confidence we have in the Company's business prospects going
forward."

In addition, at Engineered Support's 20th Annual Shareholders' Meeting
today, the following six individuals were voted to the Company's Board of
Directors to hold office for terms of three years: Company executives Gerald
A. Potthoff, Vice Chairman, CEO and President, and Gary C. Gerhardt, Vice
Chairman and CFO, as well as four independent directors, Thomas J. Guilfoil,
James A.Schaefer, MG George E. Friel (U.S. Army, Retired) and General
Charles T. Robertson, Jr. (U.S. Air Force, Retired). The Company's
shareholders also approved the 2005 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan at the
Annual Meeting.

Engineered Support Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and supplies
integrated military electronics, support equipment and technical and
logistics services for all branches of America's armed forces and certain
foreign militaries, homeland security forces and selected government and
intelligence agencies. The Company also produces specialized equipment and
systems for commercial and industrial applications. For additional
information, please visit the Company's website at
www.engineeredsupport.com.

                                 *  *  *  *