The National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC) awarded Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Build 2 of its Spectral Exploitation Cell (NSEC). The NSEC system will aid NAIC's ability to provide in-depth Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) by processing raw multi-spectral and hyperspectral data.
As prime contractor, Ball Aerospace will perform the systems engineering and system integration, and will lead the development of the operational exploitation system software for the NSEC project.
"Ball Aerospace has provided NAIC's MASINT division with tools and analysis support for nearly 20 years while their spectral capability has evolved," says Mike Cerneck, vice president and general manager, Defense Operations at Ball Aerospace. "NSEC represents a significant growth milestone in our work with NAIC because this is the first time our company will develop and deliver a complete, integrated hardware and software system to NAIC to support one of their MASINT programs."
"NAIC has a rich history of developing exploitation techniques and algorithms. Ball Aerospace is teaming with NAIC to transition this expertise out of the laboratory into an operational environment," says Cerneck. "Ball Aerospace brought NSEC Build 1 to initial operations capability on schedule and under budget. With Build 2, Ball will help lead NSEC to full operational capability."
MASINT is scientific and technical intelligence information obtained by quantitative and qualitative analysis of data for the purpose of identifying distinctive features associated with a source, emitter, or sender, and to facilitate subsequent identification and/or measurement of that information.
MASINT provides the capability to locate and track targets, and identify target signatures or attributes such as material, radar cross section, or infrared intensity. NSEC may also be used to assess the capabilities and limitations of new spectral data sensors and exploitation techniques.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. provides imaging and communications products for commercial and government customers worldwide and is a subsidiary of Ball Corporation
Forward-Looking Statements:
The information in this news release contains "forward-looking" statements. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied. As time passes, the relevance and accuracy of forward-looking statements contained in this release may change. The Company currently does not intend to update any particular forward-looking statement except, as it deems necessary at quarterly or annual release of earnings. Please refer to the Form 10-Q filed by Ball Corporation on November 14, 2002, for a summary of key risk factors that could affect actual results or outcomes. Factors that may affect the Aerospace segment or business are: funding, authorization, and availability of government contracts; and technical uncertainty associated with Aerospace segment contracts. Factors that could affect the Company as a whole include those listed plus: successful and unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures and the integration activities associated therewith; the inability to purchase the Company's common stock; regulatory action or laws including those related to corporate governance and financial reporting, regulations and standards, business consolidation investment costs and the net realizable value of assets associated with the Company's activities; goodwill impairment; changes in generally accepted accounting principles or their interpretation; litigation, including intellectual property and antitrust; strikes; boycotts; interest rates and level of company debt; terrorist activities, war or catastrophic events; and U.S. and foreign economic conditions.
SOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
CONTACT: Jennifer Meyer, +1-303-533-7155, or Rachelle Wood,
+1-303-939-6606, both of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.,