ATLANTA, July 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- EMS Defense & Space Systems, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), announced today that the company has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense as a member of the Space Supplier Council to provide recommendations on current and future space technologies, industry policy and the intelligent use of satellite infrastructure for national defense.
The Space Supplier Council will report its findings and recommendations to the DoD National Security Space Office (NSSO) Space Industrial Base Council. The Council is led by Dr. Ronald M. Sega, Under Secretary of the Air Force and the Designated Department of Defense Executive Agent for Space, and Dr. Donald M. Kerr, director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
The Space Supplier Council's charter is to support the growth and health of the nation's space industrial base below the prime contractor level. The sub-prime industrial base supplies critical technology components for military communication, surveillance and countermeasure programs, often providing 50 percent to 70 percent of the equipment on a satellite. Recent data suggest that the number of companies comprising the sub-prime level of the U.S. space industrial base is dwindling. The Space Industrial Base Council is directly engaging this critical tier of the space industrial base to understand the technical and business conditions they face and to listen to findings and recommendations for consideration in forward-looking industry consolidation policy.
EMS Defense & Space Systems is recognized as an important sub-prime supplier of beam-forming and management subsystems for national security space programs, including providing important enabling systems for anti-jamming. EMS was invited into the Space Supplier Council at its formation and is pleased to participate in this important national dialogue.
Said David Smith, vice president and general manager of EMS Defense & Space Systems, "Space continues to play an increasingly critical role in our nation's defense and communications capabilities. We are honored to serve as a member of the Space Supplier Council and look forward to leveraging our leadership position to ensure that the private sector continues to innovate and support DoD's long-term strategy and objectives."
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a wireless and satellite communication solutions leader, serving aeronautical, defense, maritime, commercial space and supply chain markets. Through its LXE, EMS SATCOM, and Defense & Space Systems divisions, EMS keeps people, systems and data connected, wherever they are -- on the ground, in the warehouse, in the air, or in space. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide and operates major manufacturing facilities in Atlanta and Ottawa, Canada.
The EMS Defense & Space Systems (D&SS) Division enables many of today's most advanced military and commercial space applications. EMS microwave systems serve the battlespace in communications, surveillance, precision strike and electronic warfare. EMS Defense & Space Systems' low-observable, compact, and high-performance RF systems work across all warfighter platforms -- from space, air, ground and sea, to the soldier traveling on foot. D&SS also provides antenna capabilities for next-generation commercial satellites for entertainment and Internet connectivity. D&SS's customers include the world's best defense and space companies.
For more information, visit EMS on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com and www.emsdss.com.