American Science and Engineering, Inc. Marks 50th Anniversary of Company's Founding.

BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E([R])), a leader in X-ray detection technology, today announced the celebration of 50 years of business in the field of X-ray technology. Since its founding in 1958, AS&E has grown to over $166 million in annual revenues with over 360 global employees. AS&E's proprietary technologies, protected by more than 45 patents, offer customers superior detection of threats and contraband to combat terrorism, drug and weapons smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal immigration. Today, AS&E's X-ray inspection systems can be found in 137 countries around the world and are used by leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports, and corporations worldwide in many mission-critical applications.

"Reflecting on our first 50 years in business, AS&E's board of directors and senior management team want to thank our customers for entrusting us to secure their critical facilities, military bases, ports, borders, and personnel," said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E's President and CEO. "We also want to recognize our employees for making possible the Company's successes to date and for contributing to technical innovations and scientific discoveries, while also building a strong foundation for future growth. Finally, we would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support -- our Company continues on a strong and dynamic path firmly focused on increasing shareholder value, and we look forward to even more notable successes in the coming years."

Pioneering Technologies and Product Innovations

AS&E has a rich history of scientific advances, particularly in the field of X-ray technology. Some highlights include:

* The discovery of the first known X-ray source outside the solar system (1962) and the development of the first image forming X-ray telescope for NASA (1965, 1967) producing the first successful photograph of the sun in soft X-rays. These discoveries were lead by founding employee Dr. Riccardo Giacconi, whose pioneering work at AS&E not only later earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics (2002), but also helped lay the foundation for AS&E's proprietary X-ray detection technology for counterterrorism and security applications.

* The breakthrough development of patented Flying Spot technology, the fundamental principle that makes possible AS&E's core Z Backscatter([TM]) technology -- the proprietary and proven approach for the discrimination of organic or low atomic number materials (1973).

* The successful launch of the Einstein Observatory -- the world's largest X-ray telescope -- with funding from NASA (1978).

* The development of a new kind of parcel X-ray inspection system -- with Z Backscatter technology -- which provides an alternative to traditional metallic detection systems (1986). In 2006, AS&E leveraged Z Backscatter technology with high-resolution dual-energy to introduce the Gemini([TM]) parcel inspection system -- the first conventional parcel inspection system on the market to combine these technologies for the most comprehensive detection of threats and contraband.

* The construction of the first practical rail car inspection system -- a predecessor of AS&E's CargoSearch family of products -- used by the U.S. Government to scan rail cars leaving Russian missile factories (1990). In 2006, AS&E added to its CargoSearch line with the introduction of the Z Portal([R]) screening system -- the industry's only multi-view, high-throughput, drive-through vehicle screening system.

* The development of unique high-energy Shaped Energy([R]) X-ray technology, which allows filtering of high-energy X-rays to remove unnecessary radiation without affecting the ability of the beam to penetrate dense objects -- thus eliminating the need for heavy shielding (2001). Shaped Energy is the core technology for AS&E's OmniView Gantry([TM]) cargo inspection system (introduced in 2005), the only multi-view relocatable system available today that combines high-energy transmission inspection plus multiple Z Backscatter[TM] X-ray views.

* The launch of the Z Backscatter Van([TM]) (ZBV([TM])), a breakthrough drive-by screening system for cargo and vehicles (2003). The ZBV has become the number one selling non-intrusive mobile inspection system on the market.

About AS&E([R])

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. AS&E systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug and weapons smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.), Hong Kong Customs, and Abu Dhabi Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement. The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E 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 statements 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 source component incorporated into AS&E's products; 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; global economic developments and 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, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.