ATLANTA, Feb. 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) announced today that Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) has directed to EMS its latest B-2 award, valued at $35.7 million, for continued concept advanced development work for the new extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications system for the B-2 stealth bomber.
Northrop Grumman is the U.S. Air Force's prime contractor for the B-2, the flagship of the nation's arsenal of long-range strike aircraft.
The new EHF system will allow the B-2 to fully utilize the communication techniques of both heritage Milstar and Advanced EHF satellites and will provide considerable communications improvement compared with the current ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications system. The latest award funds the work of EMS Defense & Space (D&S) through July 2009.
"This most recent B-2 award puts us in a strong position for the supply of Advanced EHF airborne terminals for military vehicles, and represents our increasing capability as a systems provider to the military," says David Smith, vice president and general manager, EMS D&S. "The B-2 EHF Antenna System represents a unique combination of our EHF military satellite expertise and our commercial Satcom antenna products that have been applied to this complex, stealthy platform."
Key subcontractors to EMS on the system design are: L-3 Comm West, ATK Space Systems (formerly Mission Research Corp.) and Xicom Technology.
EMS continues to play an important role in risk reduction on the program, as the EMS-designed units being built now will eventually be tested for interoperability with the B-2's avionics. The company has been involved with the B-2 EHF Satcom program for several years.
Mark Rhoades, Northrop Grumman's EHF Satcom program director, added, "EMS Technologies has put together a strong team to develop this key upgrade for the B-2, which will help the Air Force meet its need for future secure military satellite communications networks."
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a leading provider of wireless connectivity solutions over satellite and terrestrial networks. EMS keeps people and systems connected, wherever they are -- on land, at sea, in the air or in space. Serving the aeronautical, asset tracking, defense, and mobile computing industries, EMS products and services enable universal mobility, visibility and intelligence.
EMS Defense & Space, a division of EMS Technologies (Nasdaq:ELMG), is a leading supplier of antenna systems and beam management for a broad range of military and commercial applications, including mobile network-centric operations, radar for battlefield visibility and commercial aero connectivity. Defense & Space hardware products and systems enable secure and vital RF links in the air, in space, at sea and on the ground. Visit www.emsdss.com or www.ems-t.com for more information.
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Statements contained in this press release regarding the Company's expectations with respect to the referenced award and the related development effort are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ from those statements as a result of a wide variety of factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to:
* successful completion of technological development programs by the Company and the effects of technology that may be developed by, and patent rights that may be held or obtained by, competitors; * U.S. defense budget pressures on near-term spending priorities; and * uncertainties inherent in the process of converting contract awards into firm contractual orders in the future. * successful resolution of technical problems, proposed scope changes, or proposed funding changes that may be encountered on contracts; the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified senior management and other personnel, particularly those with key technical skills; and * the availability, capabilities and performance of suppliers of basic materials, electronic components and sophisticated subsystems on which the Company must rely in order to perform according to contract requirements, or to introduce new products on the desired schedule.