Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has won its fifth consecutive contract to operate the Infrared Radiation Effects Laboratory (IRREL) at the Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/VSSS).

Ball's Systems Engineering Solutions (SES) group, located in Albuquerque, was awarded the five-year contract to operate the IRREL for AFRL/VSSS from its Albuquerque location. The IRREL is the Department of Defense's premier national independent characterization laboratory for focal plane arrays (FPA), and is a key component in AFRL FPA technology development programs. The estimated contract amount for the entire five-year period, beginning May 1, 2007, is $6,440,000.

"Since our first contract in 1987, Ball Aerospace has consistently met the AFRL need for independent characterization of critical technology development programs," said Fred Doyle, Ball Aerospace's National Defense Solutions vice president.

The IRREL is a key component in AFRL FPA technology development efforts, and the data and analyses produced by the IRREL are vitally important. These data are used to determine the overall performance and radiation hardness of FPAs used in space-based applications and to provide independent validation to the AFRL to substantiate performance claims from FPA manufacturers.

In addition to supporting the IRREL at the AFRL, Ball Aerospace also supports AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate and Space Technology Division, the National Assessment Group, and Air Force evaluation activities from its Albuquerque offices.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions of important national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. Over the past 50 years, Ball Aerospace has been responsible for numerous technological and scientific 'firsts' and now acts as a technology innovator for the aerospace market.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging products and owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Ball reported 2006 sales of $6.6 billion and employs 15,500 people.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in consumer and customer demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials, including recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminum and energy costs, and the ability to pass such increases on to customers; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; industry productive capacity and competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including those associated with our beverage can end project; the German mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental and workplace safety; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

FCMN Contact: rbrown@ball.com

SOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.