American Science and Engineering, Inc. Receives $6.2 Million Contract from NATO C3 Agency for Z Portal X-Ray Screening Systems for Checkpoint Security.

Multi-View, High-Throughput, Drive-Through Screening Systems Purchased for Strategic Facility

BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E([R])), a leader in X-ray detection technology, announced today that it has been selected by NC3A, to deliver Z Portal X-ray screening systems with a multi-year service contract. After a highly competitive procurement process, NC3A awarded the $6.2 million contract to AS&E to deploy the Z Portal multi-view cargo and vehicle screening system at strategic security checkpoints.

"This follow-on order from NC3A demonstrates the value of AS&E's proprietary Z Backscatter technology for their mission critical scenarios," said Anthony R. Fabiano, President and CEO of AS&E. "Z Portal produces photo-like images from three sides of the cargo -- left, right, and top-down -- to provide maximum inspection capability to secure this vital checkpoint. With broad applications for military facilities and force protection, Z Portal offers the safest and most effective high-throughput, drive-through screening system to detect threats and contraband in cargo and vehicles in real-time."

Z Portal([R]): High-throughput, Multi-View Detection Capability

The Z Portal system is a multi-view, drive-through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband. Z Portal produces photo-like images, and highlights organic contraband, such as explosives, drugs, stowaways, and alcohol. With its compact design, 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 and can be configured with up to three Z Backscatter imaging modules to provide a left, right, and top-down view of the vehicles under examination. 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 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 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.