News
U.S. Navy Awards Argon ST $6.2 Million to Upgrade Its Surface Ship Torpedo Defense Program
FAIRFAX, Va., June 1, 2009 — Argon ST, Inc. (NASDAQ: STST), a leading systems engineering, development and services company providing full-service C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems and services to a wide range of defense and intelligence customers, today announced that it has received a $6.2 million award for engineering development in support of the U.S. Navy's Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) program.
The award, a modification to an existing contract, was received from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command to complete the engineering development model design, through critical design review, for the SSTD program's AN/SLQ-25D system. The SSTD program is a defensive system development to counter specific undersea weapon threats to high value surface ships. The system consists of detection, control, and counter weapon subsystems.
Since 2006, Argon has served as the lead contractor in designing, developing and fielding the Torpedo Countermeasures Transmitting Set AN/SLQ-25 -- commonly referred to as Nixie. Initially contracted to design and field the AN/SQL-25C, a passive, electro-acoustic decoy system used to provide deceptive countermeasures against acoustic homing torpedoes, Argon will now focus on creating the upgrade to this important system.
"The AN/SLQ-25D is the next generation of the AN/SLQ-25C", commented Joe Carlin, Senior Vice President, Argon ST. "The basis of the specification for the AN/SLQ-25D is an open architecture. This new requirement is very strategic to the Navy's ability to ensure interoperability with all of its ships subsystems. Additionally, the new AN/SLQ-25D will be able to serve as a host to other systems thereby supporting other information gathering and threat detection."
Commenting on the strategic nature of the award to Argon, Kerry Rowe, President and Chief Operating Officer, Argon ST said, "We are proud that the Navy continues to rely on Argon for one of its most critical programs. This new open architecture requirement will directly align Argon with the Navy's future procurement strategy. Argon will not only have the opportunity to field the newly upgraded AN/SLQ-25Ds but will also be in a strategic position to use our work to develop new projects. Once widely deployed on the Navy surface ships, these systems will provide us a path to expand our footprint into other ship subsystems."
Work under the contract will primarily be accomplished at Argon ST's Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania facility with support from the corporate headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia and the Smithfield, Pennsylvania production facility. The effort is expected to be completed by September 2012.
About Argon ST, Inc.
Argon ST, Inc. designs, develops, and produces systems and sensors for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) markets including SIGINT (Signals Intelligence), ESM (Electronic Support Measures), EW (Electronic Warfare), IO (Information Operations), imaging, and acoustic systems serving domestic and international markets.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the risks and uncertainties identified in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008). Some of these specific risks, although not all, are risk and uncertainties associated with government contracting, including but not limited to funding allocation and availability and program continuation. All forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by, or on behalf of, the Company, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Our actual results could differ materially as a result of such risks and other factors. Any of the forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors. Investors should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
Argon ST, Inc.
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