American Science and Engineering, Inc. Receives $3.9 Million in Orders for Z Portal and ZBV Screening Systems from U.S. Government.

U.S. Government places its first order for Z Portal and reorders ZBV to support counter-drug and anti-terrorism programs

BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E([R])) (NASDAQ: ASEI), a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today that the U.S Government has purchased its first Z Portal([TM]) drive-through screening system and reorders three Z([R]) Backscatter([TM]) Vans (ZBV([TM])) for inspecting trucks and passenger cars in high-volume traffic areas. For maximum threat detection capability, the Z Portal([TM]) system is configured with three Z Backscatter imaging modules (left, right, and top-view) and Forwardscatter([TM]) technology. With this order, over 300 ZBVs will be deployed worldwide for force protection, VIP and event security, law enforcement, and port and border security. The contracts are valued at $3.9 million, and include installation, and operator training.

"The Z Portal and ZBV offer the safest and most effective screening to detect explosives, contraband, and stowaways at congested checkpoints," said Anthony Fabiano, President and CEO. "This first order for the Z Portal follows the successful deployment of multiple ZBVs at border crossings in support of the U.S Government's counter-drug and anti-terrorism programs. Utilizing AS&E's proprietary Z Backscatter technology, we've worked very closely with Government officials to meet their detection and performance requirements to offer comprehensive inspections solutions to secure our borders."

About Z Portal: Multi-View, High-throughput, Drive-through Detection Capability

AS&E's Z Portal is a multi-view, drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband such as, explosives, drugs, stowaways, and alcohol. With its compact profile, the Z Portal system is ideal for high-traffic locations with space constraints and a high-throughput requirement. The Z Portal system is safe for drivers, operators, cargo, and the environment. The relocatable screening system is available in two sizes -- one for large trucks, buses, and cargo vehicles, and a smaller size for passenger vehicles.

About Z Backscatter Van (ZBV)

AS&E's Z Backscatter Van is a low-cost, highly maneuverable screening system built into a commercially available delivery van. The ZBV employs AS&E's patented Z([R]) Backscatter([TM]) technology, which reveals contraband that transmission X-rays miss -- such as explosives and plastic weapons -- and provides photo-like imaging for rapid analysis. The ZBV is capable of immediate deployment in response to security threats, and features a high throughput capacity to facilitate rapid inspections. The system's unique "drive-by" capability allows one or two operators to conduct X-ray imaging of suspect vehicles and objects as the ZBV drives past.

AS&E's Patented Technology: Z Backscatter X-Rays

The Z Portal and ZBV employ AS&E's patented Z Backscatter technology, which produces photo-like images of the contents of a container or vehicle, highlighting organic materials. Based on the X-ray Compton Scattering effect, Z Backscatter technology works by detecting and highlighting "low Z" materials (items that contain low atomic number elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen). Z Backscatter images display organic materials by directing a sweeping beam of X-rays at the object under examination, and then measuring and plotting the intensity of scattered X-rays as a function of the beam position. Z Backscatter technology -- only available from AS&E -- reveals the threats that competitive systems miss, including explosives, plastic weapons, and drugs.

About Forwardscatter Technology

AS&E offers Forwardscatter technology to complement AS&E's patented Z Backscatter technology. Forwardscatter presents a second scatter perspective that displays dense regions of scanned vehicles. This unique technology is ideally suited to display dense objects, such as the shielding found around nuclear weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or other metallic threats. Detector modules positioned opposite the X-ray source capture X-rays scattered in the forward direction, maintaining the rapid detection capability of Z Backscatter technology. Forwardscatter is available as an option for AS&E's Z Backscatter Van (ZBV), Z Portalscreening system, and RDIM([TM]) (Ruggedized Detection Imaging Module).

About AS&E([R])

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With over 45 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 smuggling, weapon 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), Royal Thai Police, HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.) and Hong Kong 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.