American Science and Engineering, Inc. Announces Receipt of MobileSearch Order From U.S. Government.

BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1999--

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AMEX:ASE) announced today the receipt of an order for four MobileSearch(TM) X-ray inspection systems from the U.S. Department of Defense-Counter Drug Technology Development Program. These systems will be used by the United States Government to supplement the AS&E(R) MobileSearch X-ray systems currently operating along the Southwest border and Florida for expanded counter-drug efforts.

Ralph Sheridan, Chief Executive Officer and President, stated, "We are gratified that our MobileSearch X-ray system has proven to be a valuable tool in the US Government's mission to combat the corrosive threat of drug smuggling. With the government's help, we have built, tested and deployed a state of the art system that combines Z(R)Backscatter with traditional transmission X-rays to provide maximum detection capability in a rugged mobile platform. The flexible rapid response capability of the MobileSearch system provides government authorities with the ability to counter shifting smuggling routes by drug traffickers at land and sea borders."

The MobileSearch system is part of AS&E's family of cargo and vehicle inspection systems. These systems are solving an expanding range of inspection problems including detecting car and truck bombs, combating weapons smuggling, and imaging cargo to expose trade fraud. AS&E has delivered more X-ray cargo inspection systems than anyone in the industry, and continues to be the leader in X-ray detection technology and applications.

AS&E develops and manufactures sophisticated X-ray inspection products for critical detection and security applications. AS&E's patented Z(R) Backscatter technology detects plastic explosives, illegal drugs, and other contraband, even when artfully concealed in complex backgrounds by terrorists and smugglers. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit the Company's web site at http://www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing press release contains statements concerning the Company's financial performance and business operations which may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws.

The Company wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statement contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any sole-source component incorporated into the Company's products (of which there are several); litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are more fully set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC File No. 333-9151).