
<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.6


[LOGO / NEWS - NORTHROP GRUMMAN]
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) 875-8450
           Gaston Kent (Investors) (310) 201-3423


For Immediate Release

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION PROPOSES TO ACQUIRE NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING
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Northrop Grumman Offer Would Enhance the Competitive Landscape of the Military
Shipbuilding Industry

Proposed Transaction with General Dynamics Would Create an Unhealthy Monopoly

Northrop Grumman Bid Has Greater Certainty of Government Approval

LOS ANGELES -- May 9, 2001 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced
today that it has offered to acquire Newport News Shipbuilding (NYSE: NNS),
citing concerns that the previously announced merger agreement between Newport
News and General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) would create an unhealthy
monopoly, resulting in an unacceptable and anticompetitive consolidation of the
U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The Board of Directors of Northrop Grumman has authorized management to match
General Dynamics' offer of $67.50 per share for all the outstanding shares of
common stock of Newport News, payable 75 percent in Northrop Grumman stock, the
remainder in cash. Northrop Grumman said it expects to commence an exchange
offer shortly, subject to customary conditions.

In a letter to Newport News Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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William P. Fricks (see attached), Northrop Grumman Chairman, President and CEO
Kent Kresa said that he believes that a "combination of Newport News and
Northrop Grumman (which recently purchased shipbuilder Litton Industries) would
offer a variety of strategic benefits, including significant cost savings to the
U.S. Navy and the opportunity for Newport News employees to become a part of a
larger, more diversified company. In contrast to General Dynamics' offer, the
product portfolios of Northrop Grumman and Newport News in no way overlap,
provide opportunities for efficiencies, and the combination of our two companies
would preserve the current competitive landscape of the military shipbuilding
industry."

Mr. Kresa also said that the "proposed transaction with General Dynamics raises
serious antitrust issues" and, that if permitted to proceed, "would leave the
nation vulnerable with only one nuclear capable submarine and ship builder." Mr.
Kresa also cited a 1999 Department of Defense analysis that indicated that "over
75 percent of the total shipyard engineering talent and over 95 percent of the
Navy R&D investment would exist in a combined General Dynamics-Newport News
entity." Mr. Kresa added, "Nothing has changed since that analysis. This would
be an unacceptable position for the U.S. government, the Navy and for Northrop
Grumman."

"We believe, and we believe that many already agree, that there is enormous
national security value for America in maintaining, not eliminating,
opportunities for competition between General Dynamics and Newport News. In
short, we believe the General Dynamics-Newport combination would endanger
national security and be costly to both the Navy and the American taxpayer."

Mr. Kresa said that, "The Board of Newport News has a fiduciary responsibility
to seriously consider our offer, as we believe it provides superior overall
value and greater certainty of completion than the current merger agreement with
General Dynamics."

Northrop Grumman said its cash and stock offer is fully financed. Mr. Kresa said
that he would seek a meeting with Mr. Fricks and Newport News' Board of
Directors to discuss Northrop Grumman's offer.

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.

Northrop Grumman's senior management will conduct an investor conference call
today at 6:30 a.m. P.D.T. The call-in number is (952) 556-2827 and the passcode
is 5227436. The call will be webcast live on the Internet in the Investor
Relations section of the company's Web site at www.northropgrumman.com.
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THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES. ANY EXCHANGE OFFER WILL BE MADE ONLY THROUGH A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE
STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS
REGARDING THE EXCHANGE OFFER REFERRED TO IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, IF AND WHEN SUCH
DOCUMENT IS FILED AND BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION.

ANY SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT WOULD BE FILED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) AS PART OF A TENDER OFFER STATEMENT.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT (IF AND WHEN FILED AND AVAILABLE) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS ON THE
SEC'S WEB SITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. ANY SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND RELATED
MATERIALS MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED FOR FREE BY DIRECTING SUCH REQUESTS TO NORTHROP
GRUMMAN.

Note: Certain statements and assumptions in this release contain or are based on
"forward-looking" information (that the company believes to be within the
definition in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve
risks and uncertainties. Such "forward-looking" information includes the
statements above as to the impact of the proposed acquisition on revenues and
earnings. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties,
many of which are outside the company's control. These include the company's
ability to successfully integrate the operations of Litton, assumptions with
respect to future revenues, expected program performance and cash flows, the
outcome of contingencies including litigation, environmental remediation,
divestitures of businesses, and anticipated costs of capital investments. The
company's operations are subject to various additional risks and uncertainties
resulting from its position as a supplier, either directly or as subcontractor
or team member, to the U.S. Government and its agencies as well as to foreign
governments and agencies; actual outcomes are dependent upon factors, including,
without limitation, the company's successful performance of internal plans;
government customers' budgetary restraints; customer changes in short-range and
long-range plans; domestic and international competition in both the defense and
commercial areas; product performance; continued development and acceptance of
new products; performance issues with key suppliers and subcontractors;
government import and export policies; acquisition or termination of government
contracts; the outcome of political and legal processes; legal, financial, and
governmental risks related to international transactions and global needs for
military aircraft, military and civilian electronic systems and support and
information technology; as well as other economic, political and technological
risks and uncertainties and other risk factors set out in the company's filings
from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including,
without limitation, the company's reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

                                     # # #
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[LOGO - NORTHROP GRUMMAN]
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California
90067-2199
Telephone  310-553-6262

May 8, 2001


Mr. William P. Fricks
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Newport News Shipbuilding Inc.
4101 Washington Avenue
Newport News, VA  23607-2770

Dear Bill,

We were disappointed by your April 25th announcement that Newport News had
agreed to be acquired by General Dynamics for cash without exploring
alternatives with Northrop Grumman. Moreover, we believe your proposed
transaction with General Dynamics raises serious antitrust issues. As the
Department of Defense previously noted, over 75% of the total shipyard
engineering talent and over 95% of the shipbuilding Navy R&D investment would
exist in a combined General Dynamics-Newport News entity. Furthermore, this
combination would leave the nation vulnerable to only one nuclear capable
submarine and shipbuilder.

While you stated that a nuclear "monopoly" already exists due to your recent
history of Navy approved "teaming" with General Dynamics (your only nuclear
capable competitor), we believe, and we believe many already agree, that there
is enormous national security value for the United States in maintaining, not
eliminating, competition. In short, we believe the General Dynamics-Newport News
combination would eliminate competition, endanger national security and be
costly both to the Navy and to the American taxpayer.

A business combination between Northrop Grumman and Newport News, on the other
hand, should receive regulatory approval, and will be of greater benefit to your
stockholders and other constituencies than would your current agreement with
General Dynamics. Our Board of Directors has authorized me to advise you that we
will match General Dynamics' offer of $67.50 per share for all the outstanding
shares of Common Stock of Newport
<PAGE>

News, comprised 75% of Northrop Grumman common stock with the remainder in cash.
We expect to commence an exchange offer shortly, subject to customary
conditions.

We have great respect for Newport News' management team and expect that it would
be well-represented in the senior management ranks of the combined shipbuilding
business, including mutually agreed upon possible Board representation. A
combination of Newport News and Northrop Grumman would offer a variety of
benefits, including significant cost savings to the Navy and the opportunity for
Newport News' employees and communities to become part of a larger, more
diversified defense company.

Northrop Grumman believes its proposal is superior to the General Dynamics offer
for the following reasons:

  a)   Certainty of Completion. Northrop Grumman can provide Newport News
       shareholders with greater certainty of completion than the current merger
       agreement with General Dynamics. As previously mentioned, the General
       Dynamics combination would create a monopoly for submarines and naval
       nuclear propulsion. The combination would result in a significant
       majority of U.S. Navy ship-related revenues and nearly all of the Navy-
       related shipbuilding R&D in a single company. In contrast, the businesses
       of Northrop Grumman and Newport News, while not overlapping, do provide
       opportunities for efficiencies, and the combination of our two companies
       would preserve the current competitive landscape of the military
       shipbuilding industry.

  b)   Superior Overall Value. Our proposal provides Newport News shareholders
       with the opportunity to retain an equity interest in one of the
       industry's leading diversified defense electronics, systems integration,
       information technology and shipbuilding enterprises with significant
       market capitalization and potential for further appreciation. Our
       proposal provides Newport News shareholders with the opportunity to elect
       the consideration of their choice (i.e., cash, Northrop Grumman common
       stock or a combination of both) and exchange their shares for Northrop
       Grumman common stock on a tax-free basis, providing superior value to
       General Dynamics' taxable transaction.

Our company's extensive experience in reviewing acquisition opportunities gives
us the ability to conduct an efficient and expeditious due diligence process. We
are prepared to move quickly in completing any potential transaction in an
effort to meet any reasonable time schedule established by you and are prepared
to negotiate a merger agreement consistent with the structure of our proposal on
terms substantially similar to your agreement with General Dynamics. As such,
your Board of Directors should be aware that, once we have completed due
diligence, we will be prepared to enter into negotiations immediately with
respect to all aspects of our proposal.

Our offer is a fully financed, cash and stock offer for all Newport News
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shares. As a company with $15 billion in revenues, an investment grade credit
rating, a market capitalization of $8 billion and 80,000 employees, Northrop
Grumman clearly has the financial wherewithal to consummate a transaction with
Newport News. Accordingly and consistent with the terms of your merger agreement
with General Dynamics, we believe the Board of Directors of Newport News has a
fiduciary obligation to provide its shareholders with the opportunity to
consider and take advantage of our offer. We trust that you will not take any
action that would prevent shareholders from having a full opportunity to
consider our offer.

We are convinced this transaction is truly a "win-win" opportunity for Newport
News shareholders, employees, customers and is in the national interest. Our
objective is a transaction that has the full support of you and the Newport News
Board of Directors, as well as your employees, shareholders and many loyal
customers and suppliers. We believe your Board of Directors will conclude, after
considering all the factors and information available, that this offer is a
Superior Proposal as defined in your agreement with General Dynamics.
Accordingly, we will take the liberty of contacting you shortly to discuss the
merits of this offer and arrange for a meeting.


Sincerely,

/s/ Kent Kresa
--------------

Kent Kresa
Chairman, President and CEO
Northrop Grumman Corporation
